Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

Lil BUB event raises funds for local shelter

Lil BUB’s face, with her tongue sticking out and big green eyes looking out, is displayed on T-shirts, pillows, plush toys and artwork across Lil BUB’s Lil SHOP. However, the famous cat showed her actual face when she made an appearance with her owner for an event Sunday.

The small cat sat on her owner’s lap as both children and adults greeted and posed for pictures with the cat.

As one kid met Lil BUB, he kissed the top of the small cat’s head.

“I really love the effect BUB has on people,” owner Mike Bridavsky said. “It’s nice to be able to provide this pure, unadulterated happiness,” he said.

The meet-and-greet event at Lil BUB’s Lil SHOP was part of a Brown County Humane Society campaign, “Don’t Let a P+sitive Be a Negative,” which promotes the adoption of cats that test positive for the feline leukemia virus.

Bridavsky and Lil BUB live in Bloomington. The cat was born with multiple genetic mutations that include her kitten-like size and features, extra toes, and her disproportionately small limbs.

Her lower jaw is smaller than her upper jaw, and she lacks teeth, which means her tongue is always hanging out of her mouth. Since Bridavsky adopted her, she has become an internet sensation with. Her channel has 33,727,187 views on Youtube, she has 2,965,514 followers on Facebook as on Feb. 12 and she has a Cice documentary about her.

BCHS received a grant from Lil BUB’s BIG Fund for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 2016, which helps it cover adoption fees for sick and special-needs animals. The proceeds from this meet and greet went toward this fund.

Bridavsky said this event would probably raise about $4000 or $5000 for the fund.

A poster at the event featured photographs, names and descriptions of five foster cats with the feline leukemia virus that are available for adoption from BCHS.

BCHS volunteer and communications manager Erika Imhoof said this event with Lil Bub raises awareness for other cats with special needs.

“It’s a big help for us because it not only raises money, but it is wonderful exposure as well,” she said. “It’s big to have people look at these cats who would not normally be looked at. It gives us a chance to tell their stories.”

Adoption is a major issue for cats who test positive for feline leukemia because many shelters would automatically euthanize them and people are less likely to adopt sick cats, Imhoof said.

“People hesitate to adopt an animal they might soon lose,” she said.

However, cats with the feline leukemia virus can still live long and happy lives, she said. They just have special needs.

BCHS had a 97.5-percent save rate in 2016. The shelter only euthanizes animals when they are too sick to be helped or if they are suffering, Imhoof said.

She said she encourages people to adopt animals who are often overlooked, including special needs animals or older animals. They are just as loving as other cats, and they need homes, she said.

Judy Gilchrist, 53, came from Cleveland to attend the event. Seeing Lil Bub was an early birthday present, she said.

Gilchrist said has purchased Lil BUB merchandise and donated to her fund in the past, but this was her first time meeting Bridavsky and his cat.

She said she likes how Lil BUB’s fund supports special needs cats, and she had been wanting to meet the cat for while.

“She’s just so darn cute,” she said. “How could you not love Lil BUB?”

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe