Photo Credits
Header Photo: Photo of Kristyn Vitale in 2016, Credit to University Marketing, Oregon State University.
All Other Photos: Cat Photography Belongs to Kristyn Vitale, 2004-2024.
Screenshots: Credited below image.
Dr. Kristyn Vitale is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and internationally recognized expert in cat behavior. In 2014, she founded Maueyes Cat Science & Education to enhance cat welfare and strengthen the cat-human relationship through education, behavior consulting, and science outreach.
Cats readily learn new behaviors. Cats can be taught tricks, to walk on harness and leash, and to participate in their own care, also known as cooperative care. Cats learn from their environment, whether their caregiver actively trains them or not. Learning principles can be applied to promote the welfare of cats.
Cats and humans have a long history of co-existence that spans back nearly 10,000 years. Cats can form strong relationships with humans and research indicates that domestic cats display socio-cognitive abilities, such a responsiveness to human behavior and gestures, that help them engage in social relationships.
Free-roaming cats (FRC) display flexible social behavior. FRCs can develop friendly relationships with other cats and they can live in highly gregarious social groups.
Shelter cats have unique welfare needs. Shelter professionals can provide enrichment opportunities to cats as well as recruit volunteers to foster cats in their homes.
Applying science to promote the welfare of cats and their caregivers. Early education in animal behavior is also key to promoting the welfare of cats.
Media Quotes
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Cats rival dogs on many tests of social smarts. But is anyone brave enough to study them? Social cognition researchers are finally probing the secrets of the feline mind…”
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The field [of cat behavior & cognition] is definitely expanding,” Vitale says. “Cats are finally getting their due.”
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….a fairly simple study that attempts to peer into the feline mind can break new ground.”
CatSci Blog
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Youngesters
Originally posted on avitale2: ? At the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, a young girl has a connection with a newly hatched chick. In this exhibit, chicken eggs are incubated on one side of a divider while on the other side, newly hatched chicks are free to roam. This was by far one of… Read more
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Contemplating Cat Personality in Cat-Human Relationships
Oregonians- check out an upcoming talk where I will discuss the role of cat personality in the cat-human relationship! Contemplating Cat Personality in Cat-Human Relationships Is your cat a unique individual with a distinct personality? Scientific research indicates- yes! Cats display a wide range of personalities that influence their relationship with humans. This talk will Read more
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Free Kitten Training Class in Corvallis, OR
Hello all! I will be leading another free kitten training class in Corvallis, OR winter 2016. Please see the below flyer for details. Contact me if you have any questions or if are interested in enrolling the the class. It will be a lot of fun for humans and kittens alike! See this link for videos from Read more
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Neighborhood cat
Neighborhood cat in Lebanon, OR Read more
Maueyes 