Human Interest Animals Celebrity Pets Karl Lagerfeld's Beloved Cat Choupette's Instagram Shares Sweet Tribute to Her 'Daddy' A message posted on the Instagram account Choupette's Diary for Lagerfeld's 7-year-old Birman explained that the feline is mourning the loss of her "daddy" By Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis is a staff writer on the music team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2019, and her work has previously appeared in Entertainment Weekly and the New York Daily News. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 21, 2019 09:08AM EST Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat is nursing a broken heart in the wake of the iconic fashion designer’s death. A message posted on the Instagram account Choupette’s Diary for Lagerfeld’s 7-year-old Birman explained that the feline is mourning the loss of her “daddy,” who died on Feb. 19 at age 85. “Thank you everyone for your words of condolences,” the account — which is run by Ashley Tschudin — wrote, along with an emoji of a crying cat. “With a once cold but now simply broken heart, I am going into mourning. I pray that your kind words and well-wishes will help me to put my best paw forward in my future without Daddy @KarlLagerfeld & as my own woman.” What’s Next For Karl Lagerfeld’s Cat Choupette: ‘She Is Choosing to Put Her Best Paw Forward’ The message was accompanied by a photo of Choupette appearing to wear a black veil. Choupette has become a social media star in the years since Lagerfeld adopted her in 2011, especially thanks to the accounts run by Tschudin. Tschudin previously told PEOPLE in a statement that Choupette is coping with the loss “the best she knows how to.” “At such a young age (and being a cat), that is challenging,” the statement read. “Karl Lagerfeld is and will always be her ‘Daddy.’ She is choosing to put her best paw forward and hopes that her loyal fans and followers will continue with their outpouring of love to help ease the pain.” Choupette Lagerfeld/Instagram Karl Lagerfeld’s Wishes to Be Cremated without a Ceremony Will be Respected, Brand Says Choupette entered the star’s life in 2011, when she stayed with him while owner Baptiste Giabiconi was on vacation. “She was still a baby at the time, and I found her so cute that when Baptitste came home I said to him, ‘Sorry, but I’m keeping her!’ ” Lagerfeld told fashion magazine Numéro. “She is peaceful, funny, fun and gracious, she’s pretty to look at and has good poise, but her main quality is that she doesn’t talk. It was love at first sight.” He also told the outlet in April 2018 that he and Choupette were “really like an old couple,” and that she would be among those to be named heir to his fortune. “Perhaps, she helped me to become a nicer person. Because there is something very touching about her you see,” Lagerfeld told PEOPLE. “Even if she is spoiled beyond.”