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Animal rights group Peta has defended its latest controversial ad campaign, after paraphrasing Donald Trump 's shocking 'locker room banter' by imploring cat lovers to "Grab a p****y!".

The organisation , known for its naked protests and campaign posters of nude celebrity supporters, was criticised for apparently making light of the Republican presidential hopeful's sexist comments.

Trump was forced to apologise after a video from 2005 emerged capturing the billionaire property mogul boasting that he "can do anything" to women because he was "a star".

He was recorded saying: "You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful -- I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.

“And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything.

(Image: REUTERS)

“Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.”

Although he apologised for anyone who was offended by the comments, Trump also later dismissed the talk as "locker room banter".

Latching on to the furore surrounding the 'Trump tape', Peta yesterday published a new poster featuring a cat lying on it's back under the words: "Grab a p****y! Adopt a cat from your local shelter."

But the satirical ad did not go down well with many social media users.

One Twitter user wrote: "Delete this. That phrase is from a man that's been accused of assaulting women by doing exactly that. You should be ashamed."

(Image: Paper Magazine)

Megan Schmidt added: "As a longtime vegetarian, I wish I could support Peta. But because of stunts like this, I never can. Pathetic as usual."

Shalin Zulkipili said: "I highly admire your work but this is highly insensitive."

Peta responded, saying: "PETA takes both issues seriously but the sensationalism of this election has rendered many other important issues invisible.

"As an animal rights organisation we have an obligation to draw attention to the fact that cats are dying on the street and in shelters.

"We took something hideous and made it into something good. Outrage is not enough, action is everything.

"We hope this word twist will lead people to open their minds to the crisis facing animals and open their homes to cats in need."

(Image: Splash) (Image: Peta)

Founded in 1980 by Ingrid Newkirk, Peta is one of the biggest and best known animal rights organisations in the world.

It's eye-catching campaigns, including the famous "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" slogan, regularly features well-known celebrities, mainly female, stripping off and posing in a variety of controversial settings.

Critics argue the organisation detracts from it's own message and actively promotes the objectification of women by using nude women to draw attention.

Newkirk, however, has repeatedly argued the very point of Peta is to be "press sluts", arguing: "we would be worthless if we were just polite."