Debate is raging over cats in Iceland. The town of Akureyri recently approved an outdoor feline ban, which would have forced owners to keep cats indoors. But after protests, officials changed it to an overnight curfew, meaning cats must prowl inside between midnight and 7 a.m. Some owners are upset about the rule, but supporters argue that cats’ predatory behavior can harm the environment; studies have implicated them in the global extinction of at least 63 species, mostly birds. It’s unclear if bans would increase bird populations, but some say keeping felines inside can help. The debate isn’t always based on science though, says Menja von Schmalensee of the West Iceland Nature Research Centre. “There are places where feral cats should absolutely be banned outside, if not cats entirely,” she told Hakai Magazine. “In other areas, such bans are overly drastic. My worry is that each community will follow the loudest group regardless of facts.”