So ...
Somebody recently asked me if Tache had shown any battle wounds yet.
Well, he has.
Two weeks ago, the neighbourhood bully (cat) came right up to my front door to inflict a bite on Tache's tale (as observed by the people across the street - I only heard the yelp!). He then became even more of a scardy-cat, spending more time indoors. His appetite also took a dip. Then last week (10 days ago) I accidentally put pressure on his tail (where he had been bitten) and puss and blood went flying all over my cloth couch. And the stink?!! For the next two hours I kept a close eye on him, dabbing his wound with a wet cloth, as, in spite of his frequent cleaning, there were some blood marks on the carpet (as he now preferred staying underneath a chair).
Anyways, I took him to the vet the next morning where after twice having to correct their description of the incident as a fight (It wasn't, he was attacked ... Is rape the same as having sex?) I was told he had received a minor bite wound with punctures on both sides of his tail from which an abscess had developed, and, like a pimple, it had (painfuly) erupted when I accidentally put pressure on the wound. He got antibiotics, I believe (140$).
Since, it's been a week of strictly indoor activities for him, during which time his appetite has rebounded as has his energy. I was told to keep him indoor for a week, but after 4 days I took him outside to take in the sites, on a leash, while I would read in the front yard. On day 7, he was again released in the wild and last night was his first all-nighter outside.