Mo statue

Aim

Mo - our community cat -statue

Mo - the community cat 

Mo brightened up so many lives. A memorial to him would ensure he stays with us forever!

Mo shot to fame after a local singer/songwriter noticed the disappointment from the Newtongrange and wider community online about his ban from his local co-op store. A petition was started to get him “back into his second home”. It received over three thousand signatures.

 This tale (or should we say tail?) was recaptured by the imagination of the original petition writer in a children’s book called “Mo and the Mining Village”.  The book captured the interest of people across the country and even places outside the uk (like Australia and America) with its true story, lovable feline, community feel and Newtongrange places you can actually visit in the small mining village of “Nitten” - just outside Dalkeith, Edinburgh. There has since been two more written about him and his adventures around Newtongrange and the author plans to keep his memory alive by releasing more children’s books in his name.

It was stated on the “Mo Newtongrange” Facebook page on the 28th January 2026 that the lovable feline was unwell but would be back out after a short stint on “house arrest”. Mo had not been seen outside since. It is now confirmed that Mo has very sadly passed away.

Tributes and tears flow from his local community and the surrounding areas - where it is said people would drive past other co-op stores just so they can go to the Newtongrange one to see our huggable community friend. The people and especially the children who loved Mo so much are in mourning at this time.

It is not known at this time if the illness that kept him on “house arrest” was the reason for his sudden decline and subsequent tragic passing.

After hearing the sad news of our community cats passing what better way to remember him than with his own statue.  

The idea is to get something a bit like the peeing dug but is a cat (Mo) walking his way on down to his favorite haunt - the co-op  

Looking to maybe have a nice day for the unveiling of the statue. Maybe invite Mo’s owner if they would like to be there (I know they like to remain very private) but it would be nice for everyone to say their thanks and condolences. Making a day of it would help the community and the children come together to say goodbye and remember him.

EDIT - 26:02:2026 12:15pm - smashed the goal  amazing  I’m increasing the goal because we have been not been given a specific quote from the artist  they said to raise as much as we could and they would give us choices for what they could do with that amount  

Any surplus funds after the artist has been paid will be put to a vote on what to do with it. Eh something for the kids on unveiling day, Lothian cat rescue donation, cat and dog home donation or any other suggestions etc  

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made