Pioneering feline internet celebrity ‘Lil Bub’, notable for her indefinitely drooping tongue and dwarfism, has died at 8 years old.
Lil Bub was born June 21st, 2011 in Indiana, with a malformed lower jaw, polydactylism, and dwarfism, giving her the look of a perpetual kitten. Owner Mike Bridavsky released a video in November of that year of the cat carefully stalking a camera on the ground, launching a Tumblr account later that day.
Lil Bub’s internet profile rose quickly, with Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr accounts quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of followers (alongside a growing array of Lil Bub merchandise). She became one of the first, and most famous, ‘internet celebrity’ felines for her unique look, and now her fans number easily in the millions.
Her death came suddenly and unexpectedly this Sunday as a result of a bone infection. Owner Mike Bridavsky posted on Instagram:
“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.”
LiL Bub is unfortunately not the first iconic internet cat who died this year, with the pioneering Grumpy Cat passing away this May at 7 years old.
