Clay Aiken expressed a distaste for cats in a magazine interview

The American Idol runner-up recently told Rolling Stone magazine: "There's nothing worse to me than a house cat."

People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (Peta) has prepared an ad campaign with the slogan Get Neutered, It Didn't Hurt Clay Aiken.

But the group says it will modify the ad if Aiken addresses its grievances.

The new advert features a puppet called Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, from US TV show Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

It is designed to urge pet owners to neuter or spay their animals, and is set to be published mostly in men's magazines.

Modify

The group would modify the advert if Aiken agrees to post a message on his own web site urging pet owners to neuter their animals, said Peta vice-president Dan Mathews.

Peta also wants Aiken to give an interview to its website.

No furry friends allowed in Clay Aiken's house

Peta has received many letters and e-mails from Aiken's fans protesting about the content of the ad, but Mathews says it has also received messages of support.

'It may rub some people the wrong way, but it's poking fun with a serious message," he said. 'If Clay Aiken intends on staying famous, he has to learn to take a joke.'

Mathews said Aiken's attorneys contacted Peta last week. The group had sent a letter to the pop singer after the Rolling Stone article appeared in June, but he never responded, Mathews claimed.

Peta says it will run the ads next week if the matter is not resolved. Aiken's attorney, Roger Widynowski, refused to comment on the matter.

Aiken, from Raleigh in North Carolina, finished runner-up to Ruben Studdard in the second series of US TV show American Idol, which finished in May.