Dear Miss Behavin’:

My cat has become finicky with his food and hasn’t been eating much over the past week. Should I take him to the vet for a checkup?

If your cat’s food preferences have changed suddenly it’s definitely a good idea to schedule a visit with his vet just to rule out any underlying medical issues that might be contributing to his change in appetite. If your vet determines that the issue is related to his behavior instead, then it might be time to peruse different types of cat food.

Cat food today comes in all shapes, sizes, textures, and even moistness. Some food may be fully cooked or completely raw, just depending on your preference and that of your cat. Try to determine if there is a particular flavor or texture that interests your cat the most. Some cats prefer the pate style of food that can also be easily moistened into a soup or gravy with added water. Other cats may prefer the chunkier canned varieties, with large shredded pieces of food in the gravy. Even cat kibble may come in different shapes, as opposed to the common round or square kibble.

Some cat foods also vary based on the cat’s age and activity level. If your cat stays mostly indoors, is older, and isn’t as active as when it was a kitten then maybe an indoor senior formula would be best. Do check with your vet before switching to any new type of food.

Alternatively, some cats may become finicky about the type of dish they eat from. Senior cats may suffer from early onset arthritis in their front limbs and have difficulty bending down to a lower shallow dish or reaching over a higher deep dish. It might worth considering a taller raised bowl for both food and water, in order to better assist these types of cats.