Famous Internet Cat Passes Away

Born 21 June 2011, Lil BUB was an Internet-famous cat who touched the hearts of many.

She was the runt of her litter, and it was immediately clear she required special care.

She was known as a polydactyl cat (meaning she had extra toes), she suffered from an extreme case of dwarfism, and she sported a tongue that hung out of her mouth. Her unique features caught the attention of the Internet, and she quickly became famous.

When she was just over one-year-old, she became the first cat to be recorded with a case of osteopetrosis. 

Despite these conditions, her owner, Mike Bridavsky, made sure she had the best life possible.

With her Internet fame, Lil BUB and Bridavsky created Lil BUB’s Big FUND for the APSCA, the first national fund for special needs cats, which raised over $300,000 for animals in need.

She also became a published author, a talk show host, and the star of an award-winning documentary.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck on 1 December, and Lil BUB lost her battle to her bone disease. She passed away at the age of 8.

“Dearest BUB, I will never forget your generosity, your limitless supply of love, or your uncanny ability to bring so much joy to the world,” Bridvasky said on Instagram.

Fans were heartbroken and took to Twitter. Lil BUB was trending and Bridavsky received thousands of messages of people sending their condolences to him and his family.