Messi, a playful puma rescued by Aleksandr and Mariya Dmitriev, is unlike your average cat or dog—but he’s a charming mix of both.

The Dmitrievs rescued Messi in 2016 from a petting zoo in Penza, Russia, after the young puma suffered from health issues that prevented him from returning to the wild or being relocated to another zoo or sanctuary. Because of these complications, the zoo had planned to euthanize him.

Aleksandr and Mariya couldn’t bear to let that happen, and it was love at first sight when they saw Messi at the zoo.

After negotiations, they took the puma home, where they cared for him through his early health struggles.

Despite being smaller than typical pumas—about two-thirds the size of a full-grown puma—Messi has grown into a healthy adult.

Messi’s behavior is a unique blend of feline and canine traits. Like a dog, he requires daily exercise, so the Dmitrievs take him on walks twice daily. He’s even attended training classes, learning about ten different commands.

Yet when he’s home, Messi displays cat-like tendencies, enjoying naps in boxes, scratching his post, and lounging with his family.

He’s gentle and affectionate, loving to be petted and playing with his humans without using his claws.

Over the years, Messi has become an internet sensation. He has over one million followers on Instagram and a popular YouTube channel where Aleksandr and Mariya share their adventures with him.

If you scroll through his social media, you’ll find countless adorable moments, from his playful antics to his calm, cuddly demeanor.

And it looks like he might soon have a new friend on his account—Ichel, a cheetah that the Dmitrievs rescued in 2020.