Cats
Domestic cats seem to be less affected by separation from their owners than dogs, suggests a latest study. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Let's just say it out loud: Cats are pretty much jerks. They aren't super friendly and they like to kill things. And now, Australia is trying to put cats on a 24-hour curfew. The country's government wants pet owners to keep their kitties inside as the nation tries to deal with a feral cat problem.

Aussies plan to kill 2 million feral cats as a way to help protect endangered wildlife. Australia Environmental Minister Greg Hunt, who announced the plan, noted that 20 mammal, 20 bird and 30 plant species are at risk of extinction. Obviously, the plan to kill 2 million cats has drawn a bit of backlash -- especially from one Brigitte Bardot.

Gregory Andrews, Australia’s threatened-species commissioner, said that keeping cats in the house will make them happier and healthier, and help to save the native mammals, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. In addition, allowing domestic cats to mate with feral cats would only drive up the cat population.

Laws forcing curfews for felines are in place in some jurisdictions, but Andrews hopes to get more such rules on the books.

Cats were first brought to Australia and New Zealand about 200 years ago, the Independent reported. There are an estimated 20 million cats in the country that kill 75 million native animals daily. Comparatively, Americans own 95.6 million cats, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

No word on how many native animals America's cats kill.