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

  • Announcing CatSci Podcast Coming this Summer!

    I am so excited to announce we are launching CatSci Podcast this summer! The podcast will cover the current science behind cat behavior and cognition and discuss cat training and enrichment ideas. This is a collaboration between myself and Tori Peterson of Space Cat Academy. Please follow us on Instagram to stay up to date… Read more

  • Up Close with Morty

    Playtime from Morty’s point of view. Read more

  • If you think cats are antisocial, maybe it’s you, scientists find

    New media mention about our cat sociability research! Washington Post By Karin Brulliard January 16, 2019 Dogs may have stolen the Internet from cats, but cat memes endure — and many center on one theme: Cats are aloof jerks. The primary ambassador of this notion, naturally, is Grumpy Cat. But cats of all sorts, these memes tell us,… Read more

  • Cat Training: Teaching Tricks Using Positive Reinforcement

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  • Interview with an American Cat Researcher

    Originally posted on Lincoln Animal Ambassadors: Photo from Kristyn Vitale Kristyn Vitale has always owned cats. As a child, she used to watch them and wonder what was going on in my cats’ heads. Kristyn feels that her curiosity about how cats see the world led her to a career path where she could explore how cats… Read more