What does the king tut statue with him walking on panthers mean?

Tut isn't walking on panthers, but might be walking with them??

From a site about King Tut exhibit (at a FL museum) of 50 burial objects --

"Lanky panthers are caught midstride, one statuette panther carrying a king on his back, representing the feline goddess Mafdet, who provided protection against predators in the underworld."

My son, the local expert in ancient civilations, tells me panthers are often shown with Egyptian royalty.