Team members are listed by length of time working with Maueyes.
Kristyn Vitale, PhD, CAAB
Founder | Lead Researcher | Behaviorist
Founded Maueyes March 2014
Dr. Kristyn (Shreve) Vitale is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and internationally recognized expert in cat behavior. She has a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Oregon State University (OSU) and a Master of Environmental Science from Miami University. Her main area of research is focused on cat social behavior, human-cat interactions, and the impact of life experiences, such as cat training and socialization classes, on cat cognition and the cat-human relationship
Kristyn’s work has been internationally featured in media outlets such as National Geographic, Science Magazine, BBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and DER SPIEGEL. Her work has also been featured in film documentaries such as How the Cat Conquered the World (ARTE France) and Inside the Mind of a Cat (Netflix).
In 2014, Kristyn founded Maueyes Cat Science and Education as a resource on cat behavior, cat science, and cat training. Maueyes is dedicated to enhancing cat welfare and strengthening the cat-human relationship through education, behavior consulting, and science outreach. Learn more about Kristyn here.
Laura Henschke
Research Assistant | Creative Consultant
Joined January 2024
With a passion for animal welfare and the cognitive processes shaping how cats interact with their environment, Laura is committed to exploring the endless, remarkable curiosities of felines.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Political Science from Central Michigan University, Laura integrates her academic background with hands-on research experience in human and animal cognition. She was first published in 2025, co-authoring a paper on the experiences of Black women navigating racism in liberal arts college environments. Now, she applies her research skills to study feline cognition, focusing on behavioral analysis and animal cognition methodologies.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Laura is always surrounded by her feline companions Carl, Loomis, and Atticus, who inspire her research and deepen her bond with the animals she studies. She also volunteers at her local AZA-accredited zoo and advocates for animal welfare and conservation. Her dedication to improving the lives of animals, both through research and community involvement, reflects her lifelong passion for the natural world.
Dr. Muhzina Shajid Pyari
Researcher | Feline Cognition Enthusiast | Human-Animal Interaction | Advocate for Enrichment-Driven Development
Joined February 2025
With a Ph.D. in Ethology and an insatiable curiosity about how animals think, feel, and play, Muhzina brings a wealth of insight into feline behavior and cognition. Her research dives deep into the subtle intricacies of social play, cognitive flexibility, and the developmental impact of environment, especially in companion cats.
At Maueyes, she collaborates on groundbreaking studies in cat social play, building bridges between scientific discovery and real-world application. Whether developing novel problem-solving paradigms or analyzing behavioral quirks, Muhzina is passionate about uncovering what makes cats (and the people who love them) tick.
Her academic journey has taken her from the bustling streets of Kolkata, where she studied free-ranging dogs, to the heart of Budapest, where she completed her doctoral work exploring predatory play in domestic cats. Along the way, she’s presented her findings internationally and co-authored peer-reviewed papers that challenge conventional thinking.
Beyond the lab, she’s a seasoned educator and science communicator with a flair for storytelling and a heart for animal welfare. She’s on a mission to enrich feline and human lives through thoughtful research and playful inquiry.
Maueyes 