Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate of any continent. And cats are high on the list of just who, or what is to blame.

Various politicians have been bemoaning this reality for years. But the killing of our native wildlife has continued, virtually unabated.

Now, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has a new plan of attack. It targets not just feral cats, which Plibersek called walking, stalking, ruthless killers, but pet cats, too.

The move is pitting wildlife researchers, who are happy with the new plan, against cat lovers.

Today, federal health reporter Natassia Chrysanthos on what happens when the government targets your tabby as public enemy number one. And whether this new plan will justify the cost to pet owners.