It’s always heartbreaking when a pet passes away, especially when that animal brought so much joy to so many people.
That was the case after Lil Bub, the beloved internet-famous cat known for her unique appearance caused by genetic anomolies, died at the age of 8.
But two years after Bub passed away, her owner announced that he has adopted a new cat, one with similarly unique features, who fans of Lil Bub are sure to love.
Owner Mike Bridavsky shared the news on Lil Bub’s Instagram page that he has adopted a cat named Mister Marbles:
With the cat’s unique looks, Mike clearly sensed that this cat was Lil Bub’s spiritual successor — perhaps sent from above by the late cat herself.
“We adopted him from our local shelter, and he is truly a magical critter undoubtedly sent to us by our beloved BUB,” Mike wrote on Instagram.
“He has the same magical energy that brings pure joy and wonder to anyone that meets him, and I literally cried tears of joy when I first held him in my lap on our way home from the shelter – the same feeling I had the first time I held BUB 11 years ago.”
While Bub would go onto become a worldwide sensation, it didn’t start out that way: at first, she was just an odd-looking cat that no one else wanted.
Bub was born in 2011, and had multiple genetic anomolies, including extreme dwarfism, which kept her kitten-sized her entire life and caused disproportional limbs.
“BUB was having a hard time finding a permanent home,” Mike told the Conscious Cat. “She was very small, very strange, and even though she was irresistible, I think people were scared of the responsibility, medical bills, and potential heartbreak that seemed inevitable with a special cat like BUB.”
Mike took a chance on Bub and adopted her when she was an 8-week-old kitten. The features that once made her seemingly unadoptable soon made her a star: her bulging green eyes and stuck-out tongue quickly won her many fans online.
She had millions of followers on social media, her own merchandise and even a documentary. Bub passed away peacefully in her sleep in 2019 at the age of 8.
It can be hard to move on from the death of a beloved pet, especially one as special as Lil Bub, but it’s also important to remember that there are many unwanted pets in the world just waiting for someone to give them a home.
So it’s nice to see Mike has adopted another shelter pet that other adopters might consider too “ugly.”
“He weighs five pounds, has an impressive snaggletooth, a head shaped like a donut, enormous blue eyes, and a double-wide half-length tail that probably belonged to a raccoon in a past life,” Mike writes.
Mike described Mister Marbles as the “space brother” of Lil Bub, and like Bub he’s already won hearts online: his own Instagram already has over 61,000 followers.
Whether or not he achieves the level of fame as his “sister,” the important thing is that this unique cat has a loving family, and has settled in well in his new home.
“Our entire family (pets included) are quite literally addicted to Mr Marbles – he follows us around, snuggles any time we sit down, and sleeps quietly beside us at night,” Mike wrote. “Don’t let his face fool you, he’s incredibly happy, curious, confident, and sometimes a little confused.”
We’re so glad Mister Marbles has a home! He’s sure to delight the many fans of the late great Lil Bub.
Share this great news!
We Love Animals is now on Instagram! Follow our page for more inspiring stories and adorable photos!
