West Ham keeper Joe Hart learns the real meaning of cat-like reflexes as he gets up close and personal with a lion

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Joe Hart has rewarded himself to a day-off at the zoo following his first clean sheet of the season on Monday night.

The West Ham goalkeeper managed his first goalless stint between the sticks since signing for the Hammers in their crucial 2-0 win over Huddersfield.

Rather than celebrating with a night on the town or taking in a nice meal, however, the England goalkeeper took to the Big Cat sanctuary in Ashford, where he was pictured feeding a lion. 

Joe Hart took time out of West Ham duties to visit a big cat sanctuary in Ashford

The lion though, immediately felt the need to teach Hart a thing or two, as he struck a wide goalkeeping stance to greet the keeper, which he recognised with a hashtag.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Hammers from Manchester City during the summer, posted the image on his Instagram account, where he wrote: 'Thank you @limelightaccess and @thebigcatsanctuaryuk for a special day. #feedemtothelions #gkspread #kammoonnnn'

As an England goalkeeper, Hart would be used to praise for his cat-like reflexes, having consistently held onto his place as England no 1 for many years now. 

The 30-year-old visited the sanctuary in the wake of West Ham's 2-0 win over Huddersfield

It was his second clean sheet of the season after featuring in England's 4-0 win over Malta

Recently though, Hart hasn't been without his critics this season, with his return to the England no 1 spot a hot topic for debate, with Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford preferred by some.

Despite this, the West Ham first-choice keeper featured in both of England's World Cup qualifying victories over the international break, beating Malta and Slovakia and will be hoping to maintain this position with the World Cup in Russia just around the corner.