Meet Bub (aka "LilBub"), the adorable rescue cat who is taking America by storm. Her Facebook page has more than 1.8 million "likes."
She recently "interviewed" first lady Michelle Obama about her campaign against childhood obesity.
Story continues below video.
Her story is heartwarming, even inspirational. In July 2011, when Bub was just a few weeks old, she was discovered as the runt of a litter of feral cats in a tool shed in rural Indiana. When it became clear she would need special care, Bub was taken in as a rescue cat.
She was born with a variety of genetic difficulties. Bub is a "perma-kitten," which means that she will not grow as would a normal cat. She has four extra toes. Because her lower jaw is much shorter than her upper jaw, Bub's tongue is almost always visible. Her legs are very short, so she has some difficulty moving around.
Shortly after Bub turned 1 year old, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare bone condition, osteopetrosis, which leaves bones unusually prone to breakage.
It was initially thought that nothing could be done to treat her. But as a result of physical therapy and the devotion of her owner, Bloomington, Indiana, resident Mike Bridavsky, Bub eventually learned to crawl, walk, run, and even climb stairs.
In September, Bub (known as the "kitten that everyone gave up on") was named honorary CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Those who know Bub say she has a remarkably calm demeanor. She has very bright, expressive green eyes that seem full of wonder and has little trouble traveling in cabs and subway trains. She has been a guest of honor at the "Puppy Bowl X VIP Party," an invitation-only event involving teams of incredibly adorable animals that takes place on Super Bowl week.
In recent days, however the video likely to go viral is the episode of "Lil Bub's Big Show" featuring the First Lady, discusses her "Let's Move" initiative with Bub.
Bub sits behind a big wooden desk, a la Jimmy Kimmel or Jay Leno. Michelle Obama appears on a large TV screen, and she asks Bub for tips on how to help her initiative grow.
Bub responds by meowing and playing a videotape showing her running, climbing, and "power eating" (devouring a giant bowl of cat food).
When you watch Bub in action, you can almost imagine the administration deploying her for high-intensity missions like explaining to Americans why they just received a health insurance cancellation notice or helping
IRS boss John Koskinen explain the agency's poor customer service.
Even Bub would probably be hard-pressed to pull those off.
But whatever your view of the Obama administration and the first lady's approach to children's health, it's impossible not to love Bub and her Big Show, which is certain to pick up more and more adoring fans.
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