Domestic cat Puma

Not every exotic pet lover would be willing to share their living space with a 70-kilogram mountain lion. But there are certainly plenty of people who would like to own a miniature puma or panther. Abyssinian cats are often referred to as indoor pumas, while miniature panthers are often used to describe Bombay.

Content

1 Messi's pet puma
2 The Abyssinian cat is a domesticated puma.
3 The Bombay cat is a miniature black panther.
4 How much does a domestic puma cat cost?
5 Photos and videos

Messi's pet puma

In February 2017, an ordinary family from Penza acquired a puma kitten named Messi, whom they managed to purchase from the Penza Petting Zoo. The young couple raised, educated, and trained the wild animal. They created a YouTube channel and an Instagram page for him. Messi thus became an internet star.

The story began with the birth of three puma cubs at the Saransk Zoo. Because it was the run-up to Euro 2016, the cubs were named Messi, Suarez, and Neymar. As a small kitten, Messi moved to a petting zoo in Penza, from where he was purchased by his current owners while sick and weak. The kitten turned out to be surprisingly affectionate and friendly. And, as it later turned out, he was also smaller than the average size for a puma. Apparently, his painful childhood had taken its toll on him.

Messi's owners compare owning a puma to owning two large dogs, and this applies not only to food but also to the time spent on socializing, raising, and training.

Messi lives in an apartment and shares a territory with a Sphynx cat. His territory is much smaller than that of a domestic cat. Puma owners devote a great deal of attention to socialization, upbringing, and training. When asked, "Is it worth having a puma?" the answer is a resounding no! Messi is a special specimen. He's much more outgoing and friendly than other wild cats, even small ones. Furthermore, significant interior design changes will be required, including creating a space, hanging shelves and climbing branches, dedicating an entire bathtub to a toilet, and so on.

Keeping exotic animals is quite common in Russia and is not regulated by the government, with the exception of animals listed in the Red Book and purchased illegally. The domesticated puma in Penza is not unique. Another one, for example, lives in the Moscow region. A leopard lives in an apartment in Nizhny Novgorod, and a leopard and a lioness live in Moscow. Raccoons, foxes, monkeys and other small animals will not surprise anyone anymore.

The Abyssinian cat is a domesticated puma.

Of all the existing breeds, it is the most similar to the wild puma. Abyssinian catShe's even sometimes called the "domestic puma." Graceful, elegant, energetic, with a gorgeous, zoned coat, her beauty captivates even many dog lovers, not to mention the Abyssinian's incredible sensitivity and intelligence.

The Bombay cat is a miniature black panther.

"A miniature panther"—that's what they call Bombay cats. And it doesn't matter that the panther as a species doesn't exist. Everyone understands. The Bombay cat is an elegant creature with a graphite-black short coat and expressive eyes. The breed is relatively young. It was developed in America in the 1950s and remains relatively rare.

How much does a domestic puma cat cost?

The cost of Messi remains a mystery for the Penza family. Saransk Zoo reportedly valued the puma cub at 60,000 rubles. The price of an Abyssinian puma cat is more precise. Kittens from breeders typically range from 20,000 to 35,000 rubles. 70,000 rubles for a kitten isn't the limit. Advertisements for purebred Bombay kittens are very rare. The average price for a miniature panther from a breeder is 35,000 rubles.