At the zoo, Messi suffered health problems at just three months old.
They had planned to euthanize him.
It was love at first sight when Aleksandr and Mariya first saw Messi at the zoo.
Once there, they began to nurse Messi back to health.
He was weak and demanded a lot of attention, but ultimately overcame his ailments.
Now full-grown, Messi is smaller than the average puma at two-thirds the size.
At home, Messi acts like a cross between a dog and a cat.
They also go to training classes several times a week, and Messi has learned 10 commands.
The domesticated puma also enjoys being petted and will gladly play with his humanswithout using his claws.
Messi has become an internet celebrity over the years.
He even has an Instagram account with over one million followers and a popularYouTube channel.
Scroll down for some adorable photos of Messi and then follow him on Instagram to see more.
