I would imagine critters have augmented maximums at 1.5x their max stats just like everybody else. The question is, are those stats listed for them their maximums or just average. I'd assume due to their active lifestyles all animals are typically in excellent physical condition or dead at the hands of a predator, so then let's say that the average critter's physical stats
are the maximum stats.
That still leaves Shapechange a lot of room in stats that the animal is proficient in, a Bear for example (from Running Wild) has strength 9 so you could raise it up to 14, but only 4 agility so more than 2 hits are wasted there.
Regarding whether or not Improved Attribute and Shapechange are limited to augmented maximums, why wouldn't they be? Everything is.
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In fact the increase attribute spell specifically says you can increase a already augmented attribute which to me inplys that it goes over the cap.
That doesn't imply anything of the sort IMO. Look at it this way: I have 5 agility, and 2 Muscle Toners. My natural agility is 5, augmented agility is 7, and if I cast Increase Attribute that rules text just tells me I need a Force 7 spell, not a Force 5 spell. I'm still limited by the augmentation maximum, 9 for humans, and so would only be able to use Increase Attribute to raise it to 9 regardless of how many hits I roll.