RIP Lil Bub — The World's Greatest Internet Cat Dead At 8 Years Old
She’s forever legendary.
instagram There’s no doubt we have an obsession with internet cats. Nyan Cat, Venus the Two-Faced Cat, Maru — though they’re all lovely and adorable and make us scream with joy, we’ve lost the best of them all.
How did Lil Bub die? On December 1, Lil Bub, a name short for Lillian Bubbles, passed away at just 8 years old. She was most recognizable from her facial features, as she was born with genetic mutations and had an extreme form of feline dwarfism.
According to her biography, “BUB was born with a multitude of genetic anomalies which all add up to one of nature’s happiest accidents. She is a ‘perma-kitten,’ which means she will stay kitten-sized and maintain kitten-like features her entire life. She also has an extreme case of dwarfism, which means her limbs are disproportionately small relative to the rest of her body and she has some difficulty moving around...
...She has short, stubby legs and a long, ferret-like body. Her lower jaw is significantly shorter than her upper jaw, and her teeth never grew in which is why her tongue is always hanging around... Additionally, BUB is a polydactyl cat, meaning she has extra toes, and, in her case, one extra toe on all of her four paws, adding up to 22 toes (and 22 claws)...”
But that clearly didn’t stop her nor her owner from living life to the fullest, all while helping animals in need of attention and love.
Lil Bub and her owner, Mike Bridavsky, donated most of the profits from their merchandise to animal rescue groups. She also, according to Bridavsky, “literally saved thousands of lives (both pets and humans), she started the first national fund for special needs pets, she was the subject of groundbreaking genetic and biological research, she’s helped raise over $700,000 for animals in need, and has spread a message of determination, positivity, and perseverance to people all over the world.”
In a heartbreaking post that rocked social media and the lives of her over 2.4 million Instagram followers, Bridavsky announced the passing of the beloved Lil Bub.
“This is my first photo with BUB next our last photo together.
On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019 we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet. BUB was cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us Saturday night, but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep. I have always been fully transparent about BUB's health, and it was no secret that she was battling a persistent and aggressive bone infection. Even knowing this, we weren't expecting her to pass so soon or so abruptly without warning. I truly believe that she willingly made the decision to leave her failing body so that our family would not have to make that difficult decision ourselves.
It is impossible to put into words the profound effect that BUB has had on my life, on the lives of thousands of homeless pets, and on the lives of those of you that have cared for her as if she were your own family. She taught me everything that I know about unconditional love, she brought my wife Stacy and I together, she's the reason we have our beautiful children Rosco and Lula, and she has been a constant source of warmth and love in our lives for the past 8 years. To say that our family is devastated would be an understatement.
But most importantly, BUB has made a huge difference in the world of animal welfare, and in the lives of millions of people worldwide. She has literally saved thousands of lives (both pets and humans), she started the first national fund for special needs pets, she was the subject of groundbreaking genetic and biological research, she's helped raise over $700,000 for animals in need, and has spread a message of determination, positivity, and perseverance to people all over the world. And even though my heart is absolutely crushed by her graceful departure from planet Earth, I know that her spirit, magic, and overwhelming energy are still with us, reminding us every day to be better.
Dearest BUB, I will never forget your generosity, your limitless supply of love, or your uncanny ability to bring so much magic and joy to the world. I am forever honored and humbled that you chose me as your caretaker. Please visit all of us in our dreams often.”
As Bridavsky noted, Lil Bub was battling an aggressive bone infection. In a post from October, Bridavsky said Bub had been dealing with the bone infection for over 2 years, and was a symptom of osteoporosis. Another post indicated that her life expectancy was only 6 months and it was a “truly amazing achievement” that she lived to be a senior cat.
Animal advocates who either met Lil Bub or were inspired by her took to social media to express their grief, but gratitude for the profound impact she had on others. Jackson Galaxy, Hannah Shaw AKA Kitten Lady, Nala Cat, and even Norbert the Dog commented or made their own posts about Bub.
Losing a pet is never easy, but it’s even harder when it’s an animal that’s had such a profound effect on the lives of millions. She will be missed.
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.