Dr. Maya Reeves

Pet Behavior & Welfare Specialist

Dr. Maya Reeves is a certified applied animal behaviorist and pet welfare researcher who has spent over a decade studying how everyday environments, tools, and routines affect stress levels in companion animals. She holds a doctorate in Animal Behavior & Welfare and has consulted for shelter organizations, veterinary practices, and pet product developers across the United States.

At Petmartopia, Dr. Reeves leads the behavioral research and editorial standards for the blog — reviewing articles for scientific accuracy, evaluating products against published veterinary guidance, and writing in-depth guides that help pet parents understand the why behind their pet's behavior, not just the what.

Areas of Expertise

• Canine and feline anxiety, stress, and fear responses
• Calming tools and behavioral enrichment (lick mats, calming collars, pheromone diffusers)
• Grooming desensitization protocols for anxious and reactive pets
• Sleep quality and rest environments for senior and special-needs pets
• Evidence-based assessment of pet calming products

Editorial Philosophy

Dr. Reeves applies a three-part test to every article published under her name: Is it grounded in peer-reviewed animal behavior research? Does it reflect how real pets — especially anxious, reactive, or senior animals — actually respond? And does it give a pet parent something genuinely useful to try today? If an article fails any of those tests, it doesn't go live.

Published Articles

Dr. Reeves contributes regularly to the Petmartopia Pet Care Blog, covering topics including pet anxiety reduction, calming product reviews, sleep and comfort for aging pets, and behavioral approaches to grooming stress.

About Petmartopia's Editorial Standards

Every article on the Petmartopia blog is written or reviewed by a specialist in the relevant area. Our editorial team cross-references veterinary behavioral guidelines, published research, and real-world product testing before any claim is published. Learn more about how we select and vet products →