Maueyes

A cat’s eye view of our world.

Cat Science & Education

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.

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Services Offered

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.

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Cat Learning & Training

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.

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Cat Social Cognition

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.

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FRC Social Behavior

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.

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Shelter Cat Behavior & Welfare

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.

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Applied Animal Behavior & Education

Media Quotes

“

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…”

from an article by David Grimm, Science Magazine. 2019

“

The field [of cat behavior & cognition] is definitely expanding,” Vitale says. “Cats are finally getting their due.”

from an article by David Grimm. Science Magazine. 2019

“

 ….a fairly simple study that attempts to peer into the feline mind can break new ground.”

from an article by Karin Brulliard, The Washington Post, 2017

CatSci Blog

  • Sun Cat

    The beginnings of summer. Read more

  • Neighbor

    Neighbor came to the farm, well,  from the neighbor’s house and he never left. He is the biggest cat in the colony. By his size you would never believe… he is just a big scaredy-cat. Read more

  • Rascal

    Rascal is one of the smallest colony cats, weighing in at an impressive 7 pounds. She is fiercely independent and is often seen hanging out by herself. Read more

  • Popcorn Cats

    There is a colony of feral cats that live in a small wooded lot in a highly urban area. Their home is sandwiched between a movie theater and a Sonic drive-thru. All the colony residents have been trapped, vaccinated, neutered, and released back into their colony (TNR). Many people know of the “popcorn cats” and sometimes they decide… Read more

  • Hawai’i Momma

    This feral cat was spotted near Akaka Falls on the island of Hawai’i. She had a litter of kittens who looked to be a little too old to still be with their momma. Despite their age, she was extremely vigilant over her kittens. When one of them began to cry she immediately went to them, after… Read more