Anybody who has ever had a cat knows the feeling of walking in on a “present” left by the feline: the body of a bird, mouse, or other mammal. But these cuddly killers are actually presenting a problem to the populations of birds and small mammals in the United States. In a recent study conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Fish and Wildlife Service, cats, this includes strays, as well as your kitty at home, are responsible for the deaths of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals every year. While only 29% of these estimated deaths are attributed to the cats that are kept at home, an increased awareness in cat owners is needed to bring down these numbers. Cat owners need to be aware of where their cats are. For example; not letting your pet Mr.Tabby wander the streets would likely help in bringing down the numbers of deaths dramatically. But the larger problem presented by this data is the issue of the wild, or feral, cats. These cats are responsible for 71% of these numbers. To deal with these “shocking” numbers wildlife control centers and others are now trying to find new solutions for solving this problem. The problem of the deadly kitty.