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. Vitale is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and expert in cat behavior and cognition. Her research and expertise has been internationally featured in media outlets such as Science and National Geographic and in film documentaries such as How the Cat Conquered the World (ARTE France) and Inside the Mind of a Cat (Netflix).
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 are always learning 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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Hacienda Cat
While in the Yucatán Peninsula, I stayed on a hacienda that was home to many farm cats. This cat was pregnant with kittens, most likely not her first litter. She spent her days sleeping under the meticulously woven thatched roofs of the old hacienda buildings, resting and waiting for her litter to arrive. Read more
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Misty
From his name and appearance you’d think Misty was a female. Misty is a dilute tortoiseshell. As coat color is sex linked in cats, tortoiseshell cats are almost always female. The color combination in tortoiseshell (and calico coloring) requires two X chromosomes. As females are XX and males are XY the only way a male… Read more
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Crosseye
Crosseye is momma or grandmomma to many of the cats in the farm colony. Before being spayed she had multiple litters on the farm. She doesn’t hang out much with the other cats and prefers to stick around the house or in the fields near the farmer. Typically the presence of the younger cats seems to… Read more
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