Salah posts picture to protest 'Egyptian export of stray animals'

Mo Salah has posed for a picture with his two pet cats in order to protest one of the stranger stories coming out his home nation of Egypt.

The Liverpool star posted a snap on Twitter with his two pet Siamese cats, along with the caption: 'Cats and dogs will not be exported anywhere. That's not going to happen.'

It comes after the Egyptian government was forced to deny they plan to export stray cars and dogs to countries where they are eaten as local delicacies.

According to news agency Al-Araby, the Egyptian government has authorised the rounding-up and export of 4,100 stray cats and dogs to other countries, leading to concern they could be sent to places were they would be eaten as food.

A spokesman for the Egyptian Agriculture Ministry was quoted denying these claims as 'baseless'.

However that has not stopped Salah, Egypt's best-known footballer, from confirming his status as an animal lover and supporting his feline friends.

Salah has previously posted pictures of himself with his cats, but was not topless on this occasion, as he was in a previous image posted in October.

The star relaxed with his pets ahead of Liverpool's return to Champions League action this week, with a huge fixture on Wednesday.

They travel to Paris Saint-Germain, where a win would all but confirm their place in the last 16 but defeat would leave them staring at early elimination.