On December 27, 2024, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue announced that her famous feline companion Bug Naked had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away the previous day. My heart broke instantly.
Captain Kate wrote on social media:
Our little girl is gone. Our hearts are shattered.
Bug passed away last night from complications after a routine dental cleaning and tooth extraction. She was surrounded at home by our family and enough love to fill this universe. 8 years and 6 months that we were blessed to spend together.
The greatest of sidekicks, the sweetest of angels, the saltiest of seafaring cats, Bug was one in a billion.
We are devastated. Our hearts have been ripped from our chests.
💔Bug, we will look for you in every rainbow and never forget the joy you brought every second of your brief life.
As a fellow pet owner, I know how just how much of an imprint our little friends can have on our lives. It’s impossibly hard to say goodbye…but even more so when it’s unexpected like this. My heart goes out to Captain Kate and her husband, Royal Caribbean’s Chief Engineer Nikola Petrovic, during this sad and difficult time.
Seafaring Cat
Captain Kate became the first American woman to command a “mega” cruise ship in 2015 when she took the helm of Celebrity Summit. She has since gone on to command Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Edge, and Celebrity Beyond. With her during most of that time was Bug Naked, a Sphynx cat who was born on March 20, 2016. Bug carried on a long and proud tradition of cats living shipboard and became a celebrity in her own right.
Bug quickly gathered a following. As a “maneuvering support mammal” with free run of the bridge, she comforted many a nervous deck officer as they arrived and departed ports across the world. Animals really do have a way of putting people at ease. Passengers would seek out Captain Kate and Bug during the cruise and excitedly snap selfies with the pair. Bug’s presence was even requested at shipboard weddings as well.
We sailed aboard Celebrity Beyond earlier this year and had the great pleasure of meeting Captain Kate and of being in Bug’s presence. It was magnificent. With epic side eye, a tiny meow, and while wearing a leopard print onesie while hundreds fawned over her, Bug commanded the room. I’m being totally serious too.
There was just something about that little cat that commanded attention. The term “big personality in a small package” comes to mind when thinking about Bug. And she looked absolutely fabulous in her multitude of costumes.
Captain Kate and Chief Nikola, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Bug was so loved and couldn’t have asked for better “pawrents.”
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