Lil Bub the internet celebrity cat dies at 8 years old

WASHINGTON (SBG) — The four-legged internet sensation known as Lil Bub died at the age of 8 over the weekend.

Lil Bub's owner,Mike Bridavsky, said Monday that she was happily laying in bed with her family Saturday night. However, they abruptly discovered she had passed away peacefully in her sleep some time Sunday morning.

Known for her unique physical features, Lil Bub's genetic abnormalities and personality skyrocketed her into stardom, meeting many celebrities along the way.

Bub started out as the runt of a feral litter discovered in Indiana, catching Bridavsky's eye due to her tenacity for life. Bridavsky mentioned over and over in social media posts about the dwarf cat that he was proud of her, often saying, "Good job, Bub."

Bridavsky kept an open line of communication when it came to Bub's health, detailing "a persistent and aggressive bone infection" along the way.

'Even knowing this, we weren't expecting her to pass so soon or so abruptly without warning,' Bridavsky said in an Instagram post. '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.'

In a Facebook post, Bridavsky went on to thank Bub for all that she gave him along the way, grateful for her unconditional love, being the reason he met his wife and providing a "constant source of warmth" for them and their two children.

During Bub's eight years on Earth, the first national fund for special needs pets was created in her honor. She also helped raise $700,000 for animals in need, Bridavsky said.