Over on the "A team" thread, I mentioned that Clio has some sores, and I thought they might be ringworm, though people who knew better said it probably wasn't.
I've given it a lot of thought, and now think she may have been attacked by an entire tom. A couple of the sores are just about visible, and they look like bites. The vet will see her tomorrow, so I'll have a better idea, but her increasingly skittish behaviour lends credence to my present theory.
It's her behaviour I need advice about, or rather how I should deal with it. After she disappeared for most of the day Friday, I've been taking her upstairs at night, so she wouldn't get out with the others. I'm as sure as I can be that they aren't giving her any grief, but she's going to greater lengths than usual to avoid them, and finding more inaccessible hiding places.
She's never really liked other cats, but always tolerated them, and if they came too close she'd growl and they'd go away.
I brought her down today while the others were out, but she cried to be let back upstairs. She has food and water, and a litter tray. Most of all she has peace and quiet.
If I'm right about the cause of her problems, I'll can let her stay upstairs. It's a bit of a nuisance, but shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Should I be doing anything more though? She's always enjoyed going out for a bit of fresh air, but I don't want to risk her getting hurt again, or being scared away. On the other hand, I don't like the idea of her being all alone for much of the day.
Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.