Tributes to Colwyn Bay ‘celebrity cat’ Sparky following his death

“Sparky” the cat died last Wednesday (August 2) after reports that he had been hit by a vehicle in a car park.

He and his mother, Mia, had been owned by Colwyn Bay resident Sharon Usher, who works as a cleaner at a caravan park, for about the last five years.

Along with his friend “Budbud”, owned by fellow Colwyn Bay resident Emma Skillen, Sparky was often seeing wandering in and around the town’s Bayview Shopping Centre.

Sparky the cat (Image: Sharon Usher)

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Sharon said she and her son, Dylan, have been left “really upset” by his death.

She said: “I was at home, and Emma rang me to say that Sparky had been run over in the car park. So I went down there, but unfortunately, by the time I got there, it was too late; he had already died.

“I had to take Dylan with me, of course, and he was really upset. It wasn’t a very nice thing to have to do.

“Sparky was a very loving, loyal cat, who was fun to be around. He loved a fuss, and loved being around people.”

Following his death, a shrine has been set up in Sparky’s memory outside the town’s Home Bargain shop, a favourite spot of his and Budbud’s.

The shrine created in Sparky's memory (Image: Sharon Usher)

A fundraiser has also raised more than £1,000 to put towards Sparky’s cremation and a plaque to remember him, more than doubling its initial £500 target.

Any money left over after his cremation and the erection of the plaque, Sharon said, will be donated to an animal charity.

She added: “I had him for about five years after a friend of Sharon’s asked if she could re-home him and his mother, Mia.

“Sparky just started going for a bit of a wander, and obviously cottoned on to what Budbud was doing down by the shopping centre, so started staying down there and spending a bit of time with him.

“I think that’s why he liked being around the shopping centre; he was very much a ‘people cat’.

“He obviously enjoyed being with Budbud, as well, cuddled up in their box together. It was really nice and sweet.”

A drawing of Budbud and Sparky following Sparky's death (Image: Sharon Usher)

Bayview Shopping Centre also paid tribute to one of its most frequent visitors following Sparky’s death.

In a statement, the shopping centre said: “Rest in peace, Sparky; you’ve been a loyal friend to the town.”

Sharon added: “My favourite memories of Sparky are of him being down at the shopping centre with Budbud.

“Considering they were two cats from different homes, I just thought their friendship was so sweet.

“I’m hoping to get permission to have the plaque somewhere outside Home Bargains, because that’s where Budbud and Sparky liked to be.

“It (funds donated) has been overwhelming. It just proves how popular and well-loved Sparky was. I’m amazed at how far it’s gone past its £500 target. It’s really nice to see.”