Lil Bub, Pioneer in Internet-Famous Cats, Dies at 8

Lil Bub, the internet celebrity cat who won over legions of fans with her massive eyes and droopy tongue, has died.

The beloved 8-year-old cat had been battling an aggressive bone infection but her death on Sunday still came as a shock, her owner Mike Bridavsky said in a heartfelt post to Facebook.

"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," Bridavsky wrote.

Lil Bub became an overnight sensation and the most famous cat in the world after her image first appeared on Reddit in 2011, The New York Times reported. She was one of the first cats to become famous on the internet.

She had her own Tumblr account created in 2011 and even made celebrity appearances.

What stood out about the cat were her unique features that made her look like a permakitten. She took the internet by storm and it was not long before she had her own line of merchandise created by Bridavsky.

Celebrity status came next, after a documentary focusing on Lil Bub made it to the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.

Bridavsky saw the cat's fame as an opportunity to do good, so he started a national fund to assist special needs pets. With Lil Bub's help, more than $700,000 was raised for various animal organizations.

"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," Bridavsky wrote in his post. "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."

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