He always wanted to have a huge cat, and finally his wish came true.
Some people dream of finding the prettiest dog and bringing it into their home.
As children, we wanted lions and tigers, but as we get older, we realize that we will have to settle for a German Shepherd.
When Alexander and Maria Dmitriev got a real cougar, they were able to fulfill their childhood goal.
Even though cougars aren’t actually domesticated, cougar Messi has been living with his Russian since 2016!
Cougars can be taught to love, but they cannot be tamed.
Zoologists have declared the cougar, along with many other exotic felines, untamed.
According to experts, these wild cats can get used to their owners and adopt a friendly disposition, but they will never be tamed like normal domestic cats.
Messi has a fascinating backstory.
He was the smallest of the litter when he was born at the Saransk Zoo in Penza along with his siblings, Suarez and Neymar.
He also had serious health problems that prevented him from living in a nature reserve or even a zoo! Except in the case of a wild release, they are not native to Russia.
Messi would have to grow up in captivity as he would not be able to survive in the wild.
Due to a lack of other options, the zoo owners considered putting Messi to sleep. But then there were Alexander and Maria. Maria always wanted to have a huge cat as a pet.
When the couple saw Messi, it was love at first sight. When they became aware of Messi’s plight, they began to consider adopting him as their own.
