Upcoming Presentation! The Science of Cat Training and Behavior: Current Work and Future Directions

On April 24th the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Foundation will hold an event as part of their Learning Bond Series.
  
Event description from the IAABC website:Leading-edge researchers and educators Kristyn Vitale and Saho Takagi will host a half-day live event on current work and future directions of cat training and behavior. They’ll discuss how to best apply learning principles to these brilliant, sensitive animals, how to prepare for success in training sessions, how the environment, other pets in the home, and human behavior all affect a cat’s learning, and how best to deal with unwanted or problematic behaviors when they arise. The afternoon will end with a moderated discussion with our presenters and attendees.”

See this link and below for more details!


 

Presentation 1: How Cats Learn: Training to improve cat welfare 
Kristyn Vitale, PhD

Cats are known to be intelligent and curious animals. Yet, counter to this, many believe cats to be untrainable. In this presentation we will explore the relevant science related to how cats learn from their environment, from other cats, and from the humans in their lives. We will discuss how to apply learning principles for cat training, how to set up training sessions for success, and how human behavior can unintentionally shape the behavior of cats. We will also examine how to deal with behaviors that may be seen as inappropriate or problematic. We will conclude with an examination of how to apply this knowledge to increase the welfare of cats living in our homes.

Presentation 2: Social Cognition in Cats: Review of recent studies and my current works
Saho Takagi, PhD

Cats, along with dogs, are the most widely kept companion animals in the world. However, some have been skeptical about their ability to read human social signals, partly because their ancestral species was solitary. In recent years, an increasing number of cats’ social cognition studies have shown that cats are able to read human signals better than previously thought. In this talk, I will introduce the social cognitive abilities of cats that have been revealed in recent years and my current research on the extent to which cats understand human language.

Followed by a Moderated Discussion with Speakers and Attendees

Please join us! Click here for additional details on pricing and registration. 

Upcoming Presentation: Dispelling Feline Myths, Kittens and Cats Benefit from Training and Socialization Opportunities

On November 27 & 28th the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Foundation will hold Pounce!, a virtual conference focused on cat behavior and training. Topics will include cat individuality, cat enrichment, cat socialization, cat play behavior, cat fostering, cat training and more! 

 

 

 

 



Sunday, November 28th, 2021 @ 1PM Eastern 

Dispelling Feline Myths: Kittens and Cats Benefit from Training and Socialization Opportunities
Kristyn Vitale, PhD

Cats are often stereotyped as being untrainable loners, but is this really so? Studies of cat behavior have indicated that these ideas are nothing but myth. In this presentation we will challenge these ideas as we discuss the many benefits of training and socialization for kittens and adult cats. We will delve into relevant science related to cat social behavior, kitten socialization, and animal training. We will exa
mine basic animal training principles and their application to cats, methods for assessing a cat’s most-preferred training rewards, and how to organize training and socialization classes for kittens and adult cats. Our talk will conclude with an exploration of how one may apply this knowledge to improve cat welfare and the human-cat relationship.

 

Scholarships are available for students who qualify. For additional details or to register visit: https://iaabcfoundation.org/pounce/

 


 

Free Presentations Exploring the Cat-Human Relationship

The Animal Behavior Society Applied Animal Behavior group just hosted a Public Day event entitled Building Relationships with our Animals.


Below are the two cat related presentations from the event. A full list of the talks along with the presentation videos are available here! 

Cat Related Events:

  • Cats can be social too! Understanding and supporting the human-cat bond, Monique A. R. Udell, PhD, CAAB.

  • Using science to build a better relationship with your cat, Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD, CAAB, CCBC.

    • Watch as Dr. Delgado of Feline Minds discusses ways to increase positive interactions with your cat to build a stronger relationship. 

 

New Podcast Interview: Feline Behavior Myth Busting

I was recently featured on the Morris Animal Foundation Fresh Scoop Podcast. Listen as we discuss feline behavior and myths surrounding cat sociability and training. Full podcast and transcript available here! 

CatSci Podcast Updates

We have released several new CatSci Podcast episodes over the past few months. In these episodes we explore the science behind whether our cats love us, we talk with Trisha Seifried, a professional cat trainer who has trained cats for commercials and films, we talk to Tabitha Kucera, the owner of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog behavior consulting, and we discuss Peak Purrformance, a certification and titling body for cats. If you enjoy the episodes remember to subscribe to us on YouTube.

We are also happy to announce that the Cat Writers’ Association awarded us a Certificate of Excellence and the Muse Medallion Award for winning entry in the Audio/Broadcast category in the 2019 Communication Contest. Interested in listening to the winning episode? Check out CatSci Ep. 2: Everyday Enrichment, Spice Up Your Cat’s Life.

List of Recent CatSci Podcast Episodes:

CatSci Ep 6: Does Your Cat Love You?
CatSci Ep. 7: Trisha Seifried, Seeing the Pet-ential in Cats
CatSci Ep. 8: Tabitha Kucera, Fear Free & Fun
CatSci Ep. 9: Peak Purrformance, The Official Certifying Body for Cats