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We just lost a great one, fellow Internet dwellers. Colonel Meow's owner, Anne Marie Avey, posted a Facebook update today announcing her kitty's death.
The dour furball that had over 346,000 followers on Facebook was in the same ranks of feline popularity as other cats made famous by the Internet such as Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub. Colonel Meow was found by his owners at a Petco adoption event in Seattle and later moved to Los Angeles with his owner, according to Mashable and KPCC. However, he became ill back in November and had to undergo surgery.
His furry friends wished him a speedy recovery:
Please join BUB in sending her good pal @colonel_meow magic healing energy. Poor guy just had surgery. pic.twitter.com/rWaULfmk24
— Lil BUB (@IAMLILBUB) November 19, 2013
Avey posted the following message on Facebook about her cat's passing:
Colonel Meow passed away yesterday evening. I will post more about the details when I've had a few days to grieve. Thank you so much for your understanding, Minions. Your love and support has meant the world to us both. -Slave Beast
She had created the Facebook page in August 2012 for fun, but never realized how much of an Internet sensation he'd become. Colonel Meow even snagged the Guinness World Records title of Longest Fur on a Cat in August 2012. Here's a video about it:
Now, let's have a moment of silence for Colonel Meow...