A Russian couple and their two-year-old cougar have been trending on social media. The giant pet has become a social media celebrity, amassing more than 300,000 Instagram followers and earning thousands of views on his YouTube channel. /VCG Photo

Alexandr Dmitriev and his wife Mariya have been sharing their small, studio apartment with Messi since they adopted the big playful cat in 2016. /VCG Photo

Messi follows a strict grooming routine, including daily bath, having his nails trimmed, his teeth checked and receiving a special brush-down every day. The house-pet eats twice a day with a diet consisting of turkey, beef, a bit of chicken breast and some bones. It costs 10 US dollars per day, according to the couple. /VCG Photo

“The first time we saw him in the zoo, I think we both had the same feeling towards this animal,” Mariya Dmitriev told Barcroft, a Youtube channel. /VCG Photo

“It was such excitement, such tenderness. Like, I don't know, it's impossible to grasp but it was very strong,” said Dmitriev. /VCG Photo