Lil Bub

Lil Bub was born in 2011 as the runt of a feral litter in rural Indiana, with an extraordinary array of genetic mutations: she had no teeth (causing her tongue to perpetually stick out), dwarfism that kept her permanently kitten-sized, extra toes on each paw (polydactyly), and osteopetrosis — an extremely rare bone condition that affected her ability to walk. Her owner Mike Bridavsky began posting photos of her online in 2012, and her unique appearance and sweet expression made her an immediate internet sensation. Unlike many viral animals, Lil Bub's story had genuine substance: Mike used her platform to raise over $700,000 for animals with special needs, and Bub herself became a spokesperson for the ASPCA. She appeared in a Vice documentary, published a book, released a charity album, and was the first cat photographed by Getty Images for stock licensing. Perhaps most remarkably, her osteopetrosis — which should have worsened over time — actually improved significantly, likely due to a pulse electromagnetic field therapy device, prompting genuine scientific interest in her case. She died peacefully in her sleep in December 2019 at age eight.