A huge, odd friend lives with a Russian couple in their small flat. The 90-pound puma has a well-known moniker in addition to its great height. One of the most well-known figures in soccer history is called Messi. The Saransk Zoo in Penza is where Mariya and Aleksandr Dmitriev first encountered Messi, a puma.
The lovely kitty had only been alive for eight months at the time. The zoo gave birth to three cubs, including him. In honor of the Russian city hosting four World Cup games, the other two—Suarez and Neymar—were also given great player names. Messi was purchased by the Saransk Zoo as a three-month-old cub.
He had health problems at this point. The puma immediately captured Mariya and Alexander’s hearts. So they made the choice to try and acquire him from the zoo. Aleksandr, 38, always imagined having a large cat of his own. According to his wife Mariya, “He always thought about having a lynx – never a puma.” We think that this puma is a part of our destiny, albeit it’s hard to explain why.
“We spent three days debating whether it was right to own a puma and whether doing so made sense on a practical level. Mariya, 28, told the Mirror that nothing could stop her family’s unexpected wish. “So we headed to the zoo and began bargaining to acquire Messi. When they concurred, even we were shocked.
Nevertheless, the Dmitriev family found it extremely difficult to care for Messi. The puma required medical care in addition to being a wild animal. He was frail and needed a lot of care, according to Mariya.
Messi needs a lot of attention, much as any pet would. He also needs a lot of physical activity. His human parents bought a customized coat and harness so they could take him on walks as a result. “He reminds me of a dog. Step by step, we began to lead him on a walk.
Aleksandr stated in an interview with RT that the animal had not previously been very active. “Now we walk a lot twice a day, like it should be,” he added. Finding a wild animal handler wasn’t simple, but it doesn’t differ much from owning a dog in this sense.
However, the pair eventually located a canine training facility. He persuaded us via his actions that he is an integral part of our family and that he won’t be misbehaving beyond a few minor misdemeanors. He is really friendly and enjoys interaction. Aleksandr remarks, “He gets along with people extremely well.
Messi, the puma, is more famous than just his parents. Additionally, he has over 1780k YouTube subscribers and over 600k Instagram followers! However, given how lovely he is, this should come as no surprise. Watch him in the video below!