Lil Bub, a meme-famous cat whose unique physical appearance made her an internet sensation, has died. Appearing in countless memes and GIFs across the internet and social media for the past several years, Lil Bub was particularly known for always having her little tongue hanging out, which was because her lower jaw was significantly shorter than her upper jaw. On the cat's official Instagram account, her owner Mike Bridavsky told followers Lil Bub passed away peacefully in her sleep over the weekend after battling an "aggressive bone infection." She was eight years old.

The runt of the litter to a feral cat, Lil Bub was born with many genetic mutations and had to be bottle-fed as a special needs animal. She also had an extreme case of feline dwarfism, causing her limbs and lower jaw to be much shorter than normal and giving the cat her very unique appearance. Additionally, Lil Bub would later be diagnosed with osteoporosis, requiring medication and limiting her movement to a waddle. Because of the special care the feline needed to survive, Lil Bub had difficulty in getting adopted as a kitten, but that all changed when Bridavsky first laid eyes on her and took her under his wing immediately.

When images of Lil Bub were posted to websites like Tumblr and Reddit in 2011, the one-of-a-kind kitten quickly took the internet by storm. She has since become one of the world's most famous cats thanks to her internet popularity, which has collected her over three million followers on Facebook. In 2013, Lil Bub's Lil Book: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Amazing Cat on the Planet was released, further establishing the cat as one of the internet's most beloved pets. Lil Bub has also made television appearances on morning shows like Good Morning America, Today, and The View, and has appeared in the movies Nine Lives and I'll Be Next Door for Christmas.

Additionally, Lil Bub starred in a documentary movie of her own. Called Lil Bub & Friendz, the doc is directed by Andy Capper and Juliette Eisner, who became inspired to make the movie after seeing the impressive turnout of people who came to see Lil Bub at the 2012 Internet Cat Video Film Festival. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013, Lil Bub & Friendz also featured other famous felines such as the legendary Grumpy Cat, who sadly passed away earlier this year as well. In response to Lil Bub's passing, a photo of Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub together was posted on Grumpy Cat's official Twitter account, accompanied with the caption: "Friends forever."

Special cat forever. Lil Bub's eight short years on this planet may have come and gone way too quickly, but the world-famous feline was undoubtedly very loved. She will be missed, and memes, GIFs, and other images of the kitty will continue to bring joy to people across the world for many years to come. Rest in peace, Lil Bub. This news comes to us from Lil Bub on Instagram.