The Misfortunes of Freddy (continued)

So we got back from Innsbruck late on Saturday, and the cats all turned up before we went to bed, which was good.  Freddy seemed particularly squeaky, though I didn't think anything of it.  On Sunday it gradually became evident that he had some sort of sore by the base of his tail although he would not let me look at it.   We did manage to swab it with salt solution (I held the writhing and squealing front end while Michael dabbed at the back end with cotton wool).

This morning we went to the vet's and Freddy turns out to have a very nasty ragged bite on his bottom which had got infected.  The vet cleaned it out, dosed with antibiotics and wants to see him again on Wednesday.  In the meantime, more antibiotics and swabbing (oh, joy!)

The chief suspect is Veni, the big black cat from next door, who has been known to lie in wait in the flowerbeds for my cats to come out so he can bully them.  I do keep water pistols in the kitchen but this relies on me being in when he's around.  Not quite sure what to do when we next go on holiday, other than keep the cats shut in for the whole time which I'm not keen on.