Dear Miss Fifi:

My cat Andy loves to chew on stuff—shoes, clothes, linen, you name it. It has gotten much worse since last fall when his diet was changed. His chewing is loud enough to wake me up ... which I think is the objective: wake me up so you can feed me. Any suggestions?

- Vera

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Dear Vera:

Um ... duh.

Of course your funky feline is vying for attention. You should just be glad he's not gnawing on YOU while you're sleeping. I'm not sure why his diet changed in the fall, but his behavior is perhaps a sign that you should re-evaluate they food he's eating. Look for a variety that has enough protein in it to fill his belly and curb his appetite while at the same time meeting whatever his diet requires. If that doesn't work, talk to his vet to see if there's something snacky you could offer between meals.