Lil Bub Dies At 8

Lil Bub, a cat made famous on the Internet for her unique appearance, passed away on December 1. [...]

Lil Bub, a cat made famous on the Internet for her unique appearance, passed away on December 1. The cat is described as "the runt of her litter," but seemed to have come out on top when her own Mike Bridavsky adopted her and paved the way for 2.3 million followers on Instagram and sold endless amounts of Lil Bub merch. Lil Bub was born on June 21, 2011 and died on December 1, 2019. She was eight years old.

"On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019 we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet," Lil Bub's owner Bridavsky wrote in an Isntagram post on Tuesday morning. "BUB was cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us Saturday night, but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep."

See the post from the official Lil Bub Instagram account below.

View this post on Instagram

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 sprit, 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 o

A post shared by Lil BUB (@iamlilbub) on

Lil Bub gained tremendous noteriety online and has been photographed at several famous events with A-list celebrities. The cat also starred in Lil Bub & Friends, a documentary which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013. The film won the Tribeca Online Festival Best Feature Film.

The cat's distinct appearance comes from a bone disorder, osteopetrosis, which she was treated for over the course of her life. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Today, and The View. It's an impressive resume for a human, let alone a cat.

Rest in peace, Lil Bub.

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