Rescue Puma Can’t Be Released Into The Wild, Lives His Best Life As A Spoiled House Cat (New Pics)
From snakes to tarantulas, some people enjoy keeping exotic pets. But have you ever wondered what it’d be like to live with… a puma that thinks it’s a house cat?
Messi the puma cat, named after the famous Argentine footballer, lives with its adoptive parents Aleksandr and Mariya Dmitriev in their apartment in Penza, Russia, since 2016. Messi is living the life that we all daydream about: the life of a spoiled pet cat.
Bored Panda already wrote an article about the puma once, and we love Messi so much, we couldn’t wait to do a follow-up with plenty of new photos for you to enjoy!
More info: Instagram | YouTube
Meet Messi the puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Messi (the big exotic cat, not the talented and celebrated pro footballer) was sold to a petting zoo in Penza when he was just three months old. He was smaller than usual. He had health issues. He couldn’t live in a zoo. Nor could he live in a wildlife sanctuary. And petting zoo staff were thinking of putting the wild cat to sleep. That’s when Aleksandr and Mariya showed up to save the gentle feline.
Messi lives with Aleksandr and Mariya Dmitriev
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
The couple said that when they first saw the wild animal, they thought it was “love at first sight.” So they bought him after some deep thinking about the ethics and logistics of keeping such a big cat at home. After they brought Messi back with them, they nursed it back to health. Aleksandr and Mariya seem happy with their new addition to their family, but the couple’s cat Kira doesn’t get along with Messi. Perhaps, it’s jealous?
Though his owners call him “kitten,” Messi had to be trained like a doggo
Image credits: l_am_puma
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Though Messi’s known as their “kitten,” keeping it is more like taking care of a doggo than a catto. For example, it had to be trained at a dog training facility. What’s more, Messi now knows around 10 commands (though we doubt he can score a goal)! The Dmitrievs take their puma on walks (imagine what their neighbors’ reactions are like), feed it raw beef, chicken, and turkey, and wash it in the bathtub.
Messi often goes for walks
Image credits: l_am_puma
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
View this post on Instagram
When Messi became famous on the net, lots of people loved how the Dmitrievs took care of him. However, there were some critics. They urged the couple to send the puma to a wildlife sanctuary. But Aleksandr and Mariya state that Messi couldn’t survive in the wild. It should also be noted that the couple don’t, in fact, encourage anyone to domesticate pumas and other big cats: Messi is an exception because he is exceptionally gentle, calm, and sickly.
This particular puma is incredibly gentle and calm
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Image credits: l_am_puma
Our cuddlesome Messi is known all over the media as a puma. But did you know that pumas are also known by a whole bunch of other names? Including cougars, red tigers, and mountain lions. But a puma isn’t enough for the Dmitrievs—they have plans to adopt a leopard. Because Messi needs a friend. Might we suggest naming it Ronaldo?
!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
Let me get my laserpointer...
I love to see the animals but I feel like no matter how much somebody says "this is not a pet etc, etc", there will definitely be people who would try. That's why I have such mixed feelings about this type story.
Me too, definite mixed feelings. Lovely that Messi seems genuinely happy and well cared for. However, they are in a one bed apartment and want to get another big cat. What about their poor small house cat that is already unhappy because she doesn't get along with Messi? Not exactly fair to that little animal let alone how Messi might react to another. Just because this may be working out okay, doesn't mean that they should take on more.
Agreed. The article frames it as jealousy, but I imagine it has a lot more to do with the fact that the puma could easily EAT him. Clearly the cat does not feel safe, so why add a jaguar? Plus, there's no indication that there's a leopard who can't be released into the wild and can't live in a big cat sanctuary. Despite what they're saying, it sure seems like they're just collecting big cats now.
Ok , I'm from Ukraine and understand russian. I see some videos and streams on their channel, and I know they really good owners . Messi loves them . And now they have a house in the country where they built a separate aviary for Ichel - this is the cheetah, which they have since December 31. Now they are slowly establishing contact with her. Previously, Ichel was in the circus ... therefore she is not afraid of people, but fears them. I noticed that Ichel loves Masha more, and sometimes he hisses at Sasha. But the owners adhere to the tactics of "Rule 3 P" Constancy, Graduation, Consistency. I don’t know how in the correct equivalent it is translated into English, but in Russian it is. And another point, at the expense of Messi, they made friends with Ichel, and "shared the owners" Sasha with Messi, and Masha with Ichel. I want to say that Masha and Sasha are very caring, and with time will establish tactical contact with Ichel.
They live in a big house now with an enormous yard. The cheetah has her own enclosures and is a rescue as well.
Messi is living the best life I could ever imagine. He has been raised with the greatest love and care. I’m saying this as a person who has rehabbed many wild animals and raised a black tailed deer for a year that was released into the wild and living the life god intended. I’m baffled by all the negative responses, but this is BoredPanda where negativity is now the norm.
Я извиняюсь , они уже имеют собственный дом. вот вам ссылка на канал https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvph04Sh9CFKAw-gA6y-brQ Удачи вам и вашим родным.
Lets hope they get a bigger place.
I'm going to have to disagree with you and agree with @Юлька Якушева (Yulka Yakusheva)
This comment has been deleted.
Copied from a comment further down but really an important point that should be higher when considering the situation. "National Geographic article where they say these wild animal "adopters" do it for completely selfish reasons, and refuse to let animal sanctuaries intervene even when those sanctuaries have better access to trained veterinary and care professionals. There a lot of big cats that are worse off than this puma who thrive under sanctuary care and living the best life they can". Thank you to GRACIE and others commenting with the information from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - and which is painting the true picture.
I'm just relieved that people here are educating themselves on the issue and I wish the Bored Panda staff would stop promoting and advertising these harmful IG accounts. There was a nice article the other day about someone's experience of meeting wolves at a wolf sanctuary (another animal that has been anthropomorphised by humans so much that they end up in these sanctuaries in the first place) that was fun to read. There's absolutely no need to promote these Instagram accounts, and I hope the Bored Panda staff are not being paid by them to do so. Also take a look at the comments that are supporting this couple, there's at least three of them that are directing people to look at their YouTube and IG accounts, they want the advertisement revenue to support their grift.
It's crazy; big cats rescued from circuses should be in a wildlife sanctuary. I guess, their ordinary, little domesticated cat fell out of favor now.
Andy from Beaverton, sometimes it's negativity, sometimes it's common sense.
I don't get why genuine comments showing that they changed houses and now keep their cats in a bigger place are being downvoted.
Small part of the picture is why. Organisations have tried to persuade them to give the puma to a sanctuary with access to professional care and better veterinary treatment. Also better larger space and tailored facilities. These people always wanted to have a large cat - they are not doing this for the cat's sake. If it was for the cat's sake they would have handed Messi over to a sanctuary. Read the National Geographic article.
Sparrow, read Rosie's, Graci's. Liam's comments. The professional wildlife conservationist know better.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
...because some people like to indulge in fake virtue signalling or are simple russophobes.
Your feelings are mixed because you do not know that is the purpose of life.
"Don't own a big cat. This is an exception." *continues to post several pictures of said big cat in domestically familiar and adorable situations* We already know people are easily influenced and not environmentally conscientious. Have some care with social media!
You're right, and in the end it says that they are thinking of getting a leopard too. These people seem to care more about themselves and the attention than the animals.
@gumeracha "They urged the couple to send the puma to a wildlife sanctuary. But Aleksandr and Mariya state that Messi couldn’t survive in the wild." A sanctuary is not the wild and specifically designed for rehabilitating sick animals. An apartment is no place to raise a large animal. You sound like you have a lot of anger, and the internet isn't the best way to soothe it. Go for a walk. Call someone who loves you. I hope your day gets better.
gumachera, dont bother, some people are simply too stupid for their own good. just ignore these ignorant fools.
Agree.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
If you fools bothered to read the stories instead of getting your jollies from inflicting your idiocy on others you would see that these are RESCUE animals and would have been put down if not taken in. Honestly people like you need to be put down.
Let me get my laserpointer...
I love to see the animals but I feel like no matter how much somebody says "this is not a pet etc, etc", there will definitely be people who would try. That's why I have such mixed feelings about this type story.
Me too, definite mixed feelings. Lovely that Messi seems genuinely happy and well cared for. However, they are in a one bed apartment and want to get another big cat. What about their poor small house cat that is already unhappy because she doesn't get along with Messi? Not exactly fair to that little animal let alone how Messi might react to another. Just because this may be working out okay, doesn't mean that they should take on more.
Agreed. The article frames it as jealousy, but I imagine it has a lot more to do with the fact that the puma could easily EAT him. Clearly the cat does not feel safe, so why add a jaguar? Plus, there's no indication that there's a leopard who can't be released into the wild and can't live in a big cat sanctuary. Despite what they're saying, it sure seems like they're just collecting big cats now.
Ok , I'm from Ukraine and understand russian. I see some videos and streams on their channel, and I know they really good owners . Messi loves them . And now they have a house in the country where they built a separate aviary for Ichel - this is the cheetah, which they have since December 31. Now they are slowly establishing contact with her. Previously, Ichel was in the circus ... therefore she is not afraid of people, but fears them. I noticed that Ichel loves Masha more, and sometimes he hisses at Sasha. But the owners adhere to the tactics of "Rule 3 P" Constancy, Graduation, Consistency. I don’t know how in the correct equivalent it is translated into English, but in Russian it is. And another point, at the expense of Messi, they made friends with Ichel, and "shared the owners" Sasha with Messi, and Masha with Ichel. I want to say that Masha and Sasha are very caring, and with time will establish tactical contact with Ichel.
They live in a big house now with an enormous yard. The cheetah has her own enclosures and is a rescue as well.
Messi is living the best life I could ever imagine. He has been raised with the greatest love and care. I’m saying this as a person who has rehabbed many wild animals and raised a black tailed deer for a year that was released into the wild and living the life god intended. I’m baffled by all the negative responses, but this is BoredPanda where negativity is now the norm.
Я извиняюсь , они уже имеют собственный дом. вот вам ссылка на канал https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvph04Sh9CFKAw-gA6y-brQ Удачи вам и вашим родным.
Lets hope they get a bigger place.
I'm going to have to disagree with you and agree with @Юлька Якушева (Yulka Yakusheva)
This comment has been deleted.
Copied from a comment further down but really an important point that should be higher when considering the situation. "National Geographic article where they say these wild animal "adopters" do it for completely selfish reasons, and refuse to let animal sanctuaries intervene even when those sanctuaries have better access to trained veterinary and care professionals. There a lot of big cats that are worse off than this puma who thrive under sanctuary care and living the best life they can". Thank you to GRACIE and others commenting with the information from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - and which is painting the true picture.
I'm just relieved that people here are educating themselves on the issue and I wish the Bored Panda staff would stop promoting and advertising these harmful IG accounts. There was a nice article the other day about someone's experience of meeting wolves at a wolf sanctuary (another animal that has been anthropomorphised by humans so much that they end up in these sanctuaries in the first place) that was fun to read. There's absolutely no need to promote these Instagram accounts, and I hope the Bored Panda staff are not being paid by them to do so. Also take a look at the comments that are supporting this couple, there's at least three of them that are directing people to look at their YouTube and IG accounts, they want the advertisement revenue to support their grift.
It's crazy; big cats rescued from circuses should be in a wildlife sanctuary. I guess, their ordinary, little domesticated cat fell out of favor now.
Andy from Beaverton, sometimes it's negativity, sometimes it's common sense.
I don't get why genuine comments showing that they changed houses and now keep their cats in a bigger place are being downvoted.
Small part of the picture is why. Organisations have tried to persuade them to give the puma to a sanctuary with access to professional care and better veterinary treatment. Also better larger space and tailored facilities. These people always wanted to have a large cat - they are not doing this for the cat's sake. If it was for the cat's sake they would have handed Messi over to a sanctuary. Read the National Geographic article.
Sparrow, read Rosie's, Graci's. Liam's comments. The professional wildlife conservationist know better.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
...because some people like to indulge in fake virtue signalling or are simple russophobes.
Your feelings are mixed because you do not know that is the purpose of life.
"Don't own a big cat. This is an exception." *continues to post several pictures of said big cat in domestically familiar and adorable situations* We already know people are easily influenced and not environmentally conscientious. Have some care with social media!
You're right, and in the end it says that they are thinking of getting a leopard too. These people seem to care more about themselves and the attention than the animals.
@gumeracha "They urged the couple to send the puma to a wildlife sanctuary. But Aleksandr and Mariya state that Messi couldn’t survive in the wild." A sanctuary is not the wild and specifically designed for rehabilitating sick animals. An apartment is no place to raise a large animal. You sound like you have a lot of anger, and the internet isn't the best way to soothe it. Go for a walk. Call someone who loves you. I hope your day gets better.
gumachera, dont bother, some people are simply too stupid for their own good. just ignore these ignorant fools.
Agree.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
If you fools bothered to read the stories instead of getting your jollies from inflicting your idiocy on others you would see that these are RESCUE animals and would have been put down if not taken in. Honestly people like you need to be put down.