Perhaps it is a bit unorthodox to write about the passing of a cat. But you know a cat is special when people like Missy Elliott are posting sad tweets about said cat’s death. That is exactly what is happening for Internet sensation, Lil Bub.
Lil Bub was a dark brown and white tabby known for her huge round eyes and a perennially stuck out tongue. She had no teeth, and suffered from dwarfism and osteoporosis – – reportedly the only cat in the world to suffer from the latter. Despite reaching adulthood, Lil Bub remained kitten-sized. Her maladies allegedly the result of problematic breeding in feral cat communities. She also had an extra toe on each foot. Often, she looked as if she were clasping her hands, waiting to talk to her many fans. The life expectancy of cats with Lil Bub’s dwarfism is about two months. The famous cat was 8 years old.
Lil Bub and the odds of overcoming
Certainly Lil Bub had an appeal for cat lovers everywhere. But there was more to love about the little cat with the big eyes than just being feline. For many people she became a symbol of what it means to deal with whatever life hands a person or cat. Her life and her interactions with her fur and human friends taught people to get on with enjoying life.
Whether her fans were dealing with loved ones with special needs, or a pet with difficult health conditions, or even had special needs themselves, Lil Bub raised spirits and captured hearts in a way that is a bit inexplicable. She was a sweet personality. Fans responded positively to watching videos of the little cat napping by a crackling fire, or eating yogurt or tuna, her favorites. Seeing her jump and play was also uplifting when a viewer considered Lil Bub’s physicality, as the video below attests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaFQ8bUSq4U
Lil Bub, who with her owner Mike Bridavsky lived in Bloomington, Indiana, developed a following of more than three million people. She also had an Internet show, “Lil Bub’s Big Show,” that was narrated by Bill Kurtis. Whoopi Goldberg was one of Lil Bub’s guests on the show.
Lil Bub was also involved in research at Indiana University in Bloomington. Her life span was remarkable for a cat with dwarfism. Maybe with Lil Bub as an example of the quality of life pets with special needs can have, perhaps some pets will be spared euthanasia simply on the grounds of being “different.”
And that is the other lesson people get from Lil Bub. Her difference was treated as the quality that made her magical. Her story states that she is from outer space. She arrived on Earth by way of a spaceship crash. This is detailed in the photograph book “Lil Bub’s Big Book.”
Lil Bub’s passing was covered by CNN, TMZ and a host of other news outlets. It has also been noted that 2019 was also the year another famous Internet cat died – – Grumpy Cat. According to Bridvasky’s social media posts, Lil Bub died peacefully in her sleep. And, if she had to go, that is the best her fans could wish for her.
