Brief history, last year we adopted 2 female cats and a few weeks later, one of them was attacked by neighbourhood bully cats. She recovered fairly quickly and had no problems going outside, often for hours on end.
About a week ago a called her in for dinner and heard a godawful yowling sound. Not a full-blown cat fight, more like confrontational growls. My cat didn't come in until much later but seemed alright. However, since then she has barely left my bedroom, only to eat (reluctantly - but she's not off her food), and she will go outside to pee and then come straight back in and up to my room. None of her usual adventures.
She's demanding constant attention, following me everywhere and meowing when she thinks I've forgotten she's there. It's quite cute because she's so affectionate and lovely, but a bit worrying too as she's not normally this clingy. She has also started suckling on my dressing gown (she is 4 years old.)
I have a fair idea of how she came to get like this - same cats who attacked her now probably lurking in her territory - what I need advice on is how to help her become confident enough to get back to her normal self, and perhaps figure out how to stop the suckling. (She did this when we first adopted her - I put it down to stress or a behaviour she hadn't grown out of, but then read somewhere it can happen when kittens are weaned too early.)
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 