Animal rights organisation Peta has taken inspiration from Donald Trump for its latest campaign, which urges people to “grab a pussy” – adopt a cat, that is.

The group wants to bring the posters, which it hopes will help find homes for rescue cats, to London and New York.

But the advertisement, which shows a reclining cat below the words “Grab a pussy! Adopt a cat from your local shelter”, has been criticised by those who say it trivialises sexual assault.

“We are currently talking with billboard companies to see how many will be available in London before the US election on 8 November,” a Peta spokesperson told The Independent.

“Every day, we hear reports of local rescue centres that have reached the crisis point because they are bursting at the seams with abandoned cats.

“Cats Protection and the RSPCA alone report receiving more than 30,000 calls a year regarding stray cats, and more than 100,000 stray dogs are picked up off UK streets by councils every year.”

The organisation is well-known for its provocative and shocking advertising campaigns. A 2010 poster showing Pamela Anderson in a bikini with her body parts labelled as if she were a piece of meat was banned in Montreal by officials who said it was sexist.

“Yes Peta. Let’s take this time to use sexual abuse as a marketing gimmick to adopt cats. Way to Go,” wrote one Twitter user about the latest campaign.

“I am a proud vegan and animalist but using rape culture to promote your work is terribly wrong,” wrote another.

Peta campaigns in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Anti-fur protestors from Peta are seen on the runway at the Julien MacDonald fashion show as part of London Fashion Week in September 2006 MJ Kim/Getty Images Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures The poster from the animal rights group PETA PETA Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Animals on the mind: Staunch PETA supporter Morrissey casually poses with a cat on his head for one particularly literal campaign PETA Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Helen Flanagan poses beside a poster featuring her wearing reptile skin, to promote a PETA campaign, in Covent Garden PA Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Skin trade: PETA protests against Canadian seal hunting AFP / GETTY IMAGES Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures A member of the 'Taiji Dolphin Action Group' curls up on a sheet depicting the Japanese flag, during a protest against the killing of dolphins Getty Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gather to lie in a heap in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness on World Vegan Day PA Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Ingrid Newkirk outside Fortnum & Mason with a bloodied mouth and feeding tube Peta Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures A member of the association 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (Peta) demonstrates to denounce the way birds' livers are fatten during the foie gras production Getty Images Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Peta's leader protesting against fur in Paris in 2006 AFP Peta campaigns in pictures Peta campaigns in pictures Protesting against Canadian seal hunting AP

“We know that the public will get the humour, that people will do a double-take, and that it will prompt discussions – and we hope more than a few homeless cats will be adopted as a result,” the spokesperson said.

“Already, one billboard company has said yes to Peta US for an ad in New York City, but space won’t be available until December, and we’re trying to get it placed sooner than that. Every minute counts if you're a kitten with nowhere to go.”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was forced to apologise when a video clip emerged from 2005 in which he made lewd comments about women.

“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful – I just start kissing them [...] And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything,” he said.

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

Peta responded to criticism on Twitter, saying: “Peta takes both issues seriously but the sensationalism of this election has rendered many other important issues invisible.”