Small-Paws.ca Teach, Connect and Grow your Impact
Portrait of Kristyn Vitale, MEn, PhD, CAAB

Kristyn Vitale
MEn, PhD, CAAB

Dr. Kristyn Vitale is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and an internationally recognized expert in cat behavior. She is a researcher and educator in animal behavior, companion animal welfare, and human-animal interaction. Vitale received a Master of Environmental Science from Miami University (USA), where she studied free-ranging cat social behavior, and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Oregon State University (USA), where she researched cat social cognition and human-animal interactions. She also served as a Visiting Research Fellow at Kyoto University (Japan) where she studied cross-cultural differences in the human-cat relationship. Vitale’s main area of expertise is focused on human-cat interactions, cat social behavior, and the impact of life experiences, such as cat training and socialization classes, on cat cognition. In addition to her work with cats, she has also supported research into dog-human and dog-dog attachment bonds, dog-assisted interventions for children, and the impact of human socialization on domestic pig behavior. Her research has been internationally featured in media outlets such as Science and National Geographic, and in documentaries such as How the Cat Conquered the World (ARTE France) and Inside the Mind of a Cat (Netflix). She is the founder of Maueyes Cat Science and Education, an organization dedicated to enhancing cat welfare and strengthening the cat-human relationship through education, behavior consulting, and science outreach.

Short, focused learning designed to fit into busy schedules.

Course in development. Expected release in early 2026.

Comprehensive courses of three hours or more, delivered through self-directed study, live instruction, or blended learning formats.

Dr. Kristyn Vitale is developing longer-form courses designed for deeper study. Join our mailing list to receive updates when new courses are announced.

Maueyes logo


For information about educational events, behavior consulting, or to book Dr. Kristyn Vitale for speaking engagements, please contact her directly through https://maueyes.com/