www.newrivervalley.com

Paws & Claws

Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas. She lives in Blacksburg now, and answers local pet owners' questions every week in The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com.

Recent columns

• High school biology can explain calico coloring
• Vaccinating your cat comes with small cancer risk
• Although rare, cat scratch fever can occur after bite, scratch
• Halloween is not a treat for most pets

Q Why does my cat jump up in my lap and stick her bottom in my face before settling down? I find it disgusting, and in spite of scolding her each time and even pushing her away, she still continues to do it.

A Odor plays a major role in communication between cats. This is one of the reasons why when cats meet for the first time, they circle each other. What they are trying to do is sniff the odor produced by the anal glands of the other cat.

Cats that meet for the first time and have not yet established who is the boss cat will keep their tails down protecting their scent glands from being inspected; eventually the more dominant cat will get the first sniff.

When cats meet other cats or people that they know they carry their tales high and present their backsides for inspection thus acknowledging that the other cat or person is top cat.

In cat hierarchy, people have replaced other cats -- or to be more specific, the cat's owner is a mother figure, as is shown by providing food, comfort and security.

As a kitten is growing up, its mother routinely cleans the kitten's bottom, so it is a natural instinct of a cat to present her bottom to her favorite owner. Although you find this greeting behavior offensive, your cat is actually paying you a compliment by acknowledging you as the dominant cat as well as being in the maternal role.

Q Recently a feral cat that I managed to befriend developed a very sore hock joint. He became so ill that it was possible to catch him and take him for treatment. Nothing seemed to work, and after several weeks, he was referred to a specialist. Biopsy of the hock joint showed that it was a Cryptococcus infection and that it had spread though out his body, so we regretfully put him to sleep. Some info please on this problem.

A Cryptococcus is a yeast-like fungal infection that is commonly found in soil and bird droppings, especially those of pigeons.

It thrives in warm humid conditions. If the contaminated area is protected from sunlight and drying, Cryptococcus can survive in this environment for well more than two years.

This disease occurs more commonly in cats than in dogs, although given the right circumstances it can occur in either, usually in younger animals that have a compromised immune system due to some other cause. Cats usually become infected by inhaling the fungus, although infection due to a skin injury is possible.

Cryptococcus is a systemic illness, meaning that it spreads to most of the internal organs, including skin, brain and nervous system, respiratory system, liver, kidneys, bone marrow and the eyes.

Treatment is lengthy, expensive and very often unsuccessful, especially if the fungus is widespread throughout the body when the condition is diagnosed. Cats respond to treatment protocols a little better than dogs do, in whom the condition is nearly always rapidly fatal.

Prevention of exposure to the fungus is not possible because Cryptococcus is so widespread in the environment. It is the young of all species, including people, that are chiefly at risk, as well as any animal or person with a compromised immune system.

Obviously it is a good idea to keep away from areas where the fungus is likely to be present. Avoid areas that have high concentrations of bird droppings, especially damp shaded buildings and woodpiles, as well as areas with dead plant or animal material on which the fungus feeds.

There is no vaccine available, and even after apparent successful treatment, relapses are not uncommon. Although there have been no documented cases of direct transmission of Cryptococcus from an affected cat or dog to a human, it is potentially possible, and precautions should be taken when handling an infected animal, especially if there are young children in the home.