Not many of us think of adopting a wild puma, right? It’s a majestic cat that belongs to the wild.
You can also find them in zoos and sanctuaries. But bring them home is challenging. You have to domesticize this big cat, making them become a house cat.
Mariya and Aleksandr Dmitriev, a couple from Russia did an extra thing. They adopted a rescued puma from the Saransk Zoo in Penza.
The couple first met Messi (name of the puma) when he was only eight-months-old. The wild cat was struggling with health issues then. They loved the puma at the first sight.
Aleksandr has always dreamed of owning a big cat, a lynx, for instance. When he and his wife, Mariya spotted the puma at the zoo, they thought it was destiny. They want to give him a home.
Therefore, they decided to take a negotiation with the zoo to buy the puma. Luckily, the zoo agreed.
Aleksandr’s dream has come true. He gets the puma as a family member.
The couple truly loves the wild cat. They give Messi needed medical attention and proper care. They also take him for walk two times a day.
“He is like a dog. We started taking him for a walk, step by step. The animal hadn’t been really active before, Aleksandr said in an interview with RT, “Now we walk a lot twice a day, as it’s supposed to be. It doesn’t differ much from owning a dog in this sense.”
Mariya and Aleksandr also find a dog training school for their puma. Messi is kind, playful, friendly, and sometimes, causes small naughty things.
Adopting a wild animal is not an easy task but the couple has been doing really great. The three are living happily in their apartment.
The wild cat also owns an Instagram account with more than 600k followers. He is also a star on Youtube with over 1780k subscribers. Wild animals can be adorable and affectionate, guys.
If you love the puma, don’t hesitate to share this post with family and friends. Have fun!
H/T: Majestic Animals