Puma with dwarfism, 'Messi', deemed unfit to live in the zoo or the wild, but gets saved by couple who teach him how to be a purrfect pet: 'He's basically too much a derp to survive by himself'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 30, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

It's one of our dreams to have a big cat as a pet. No, we're not talking about a floofy Norwegian forest cat or a meowjestic maine coon. We're talking about a really big cat, like lions, and tigers, and pumas, oh my! Can you imagine waking up with a sleepy cheetah in your bed, or giving head scratches to a lioness? We can, and it sounds like heaven. Unfortunately, this is not advised so this idea will have to stay in our dreams, but for one couple, it became a reality.

Meet Messi, the rescue puma with a form of dwarfism that was born in a zoo. Unfortunately, due to his health issues, the zoo deemed him unfit to live in the zoo or in the wild, so he was about to meet a terrible fate. That is, until one couple saved him, and taught him how to be the purrfect pet. He knows around 10 commands and lives peacefully with his family. Scroll down to learn more!

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    I AM PUMA
    via I_AM_PUMA
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    Singer211 His name is Messi. Some more details:
    via Singer211
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    He was raised from infancy in horrible conditions. So he has no experience surviving in the wild.
    via Singer211
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    Cheezburger Image 10522446848
    via I_AM_PUMA

  • We would not want to be the ones to clip his nails. Or tell him no. Imagine disciplining a literal puma. It sounds insane, and yet, they must have to. But then again…. imagine the snuggles. And the biscuits. We bet Messi can make some biiiiiiiiiiig biscuits.

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    He has a form of dwarfism, so he's about 30% smaller than a normal puma. He also has some other disabilities as well. So he would not be able to survive in the wild.
    via Singer211
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    They were going to euthanize him until his owners convinced them to let him be adopted.
    via Singer211
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    Cheezburger Image 10522446592
    via I_AM_PUMA
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    They take him for walks, he goes to dog obedience training, they are very caring towards his medical needs, etc.
    via Singer211
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    Normally I would not recommend trying to adopt big cats. But this is a unique case and this is probably the best possible place for him.
    via Singer211
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    I_AM_PUMA
    via I_AM_PUMA
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    CountDesMoines Danger beans
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    Cheezburger Image 10522454272
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    stinkyandsticky I'd love to see the expression on the cable guy's face when he walks. into your house...
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    Engaged19TimesPW I'd hate to clean that litter box
    via Engaged19TimesPW

  • Messi must eat a lot. We're not sure we could afford to feed him as much meat as he needs. That must be pretty expensive! Although he does have 2.3 million followers on Instagram, so we guess his pawrents are doing okay with money.

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    Cheezburger Image 10522455040
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    Kflynn1337 Oh yeah, Messi the puma... and the reason he can't be released is he's basically too much of a derp to survive by himself. (really, he just never learnt to be a puma..)
    via Kflynn1337
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    abx098 Messi was rescued by Aleksandr and Mariya Dmitriev in 2016 after living in a petting zoo in Penza, Russia. At the zoo, Messi suffered health problems at just three months old. The institution decided that because
    via abx098
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    pumas were not native to Russia, it wasn't possible to release Messi into the wild, and his health issues prevented him from living in another zoo or animal sanctuary. They had planned to euthanize him. Full story.
    via abx098

    Read this article about Messi for his whole story!

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    Cheezburger Image 10522454784
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    thegalwayseoige Those aren't toe beans. ...those are toe olives.
    via thegalwayseoige
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    Lunamkardas Sweet little Messi and his new Cheetah sister Gerda. I call Messi little because he's actually undersized due to his health problems, he never grew to full size.
    via Lunamkardas
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    Cheezburger Image 10522455296
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    Tempus Fugit TicToc What do those 3am zoomies sound like?
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    SgtScoobySnack1 They are a cool follow "I am Puma" and "I am Cheeta" amazing how well the cpl cares for the cats to keep them stimulated and exercised, mesi the puma is a big ol housecat.
    via SgtScoobySnack1
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    crazyrynth "Rescued puma who can't be released to wild is a house cat meow." FTFY
    via crazyrynth
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    Cheezburger Image 10522454528
    via l_am_puma
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    passinghere Very appropriate t-shirt in the 2nd pic. Would love to have a large pet cat, shame it's not really possible
    via passinghere

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puma wild animals pets messi zoo survive big cats derp animals wild
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