In search of the best cat food for your kitty? This is one of the most important decisions you can make as a cat owner. Yet, many cat owners do very little, if any research in this area, even those that make homemade food.

Feeding foods that meet AAFCO guidelines is typically recommended, as making sure your cat gets the proper nutrition is the primary concern. In addition, below are some important points to help you make your decision.

1. Food type.

Decide whether you're going to feed dry food "free choice" or wet canned food at specific times. This may depend upon how complex your schedule is, your cat's health, and other factors. Some people choose one type as a primary method, then supplement with the other.

2. Select a "healthy" cat food.

With higher quality ingredients, the best cat food is generally more expensive than the house brand at the grocery store or super store. Many cat health experts believe that a better diet can prevent commonly seen cat health problems.

More expensive, however, doesn't always guarantee high quality. So, you'll want to investigate the ingredients and manufacturing process for yourself before deciding. Healthier cat foods avoid the use of artificial preservatives like BHT/BHA and ethoxyquin, and are made with wholesome ingredients.

3. Investigate "organic."

Organic pet food is gaining a following, and possibly with good reason. A cat food labeled USDA certified organic will have gone through certain inspections. For example, Newman's Own Organics is certified by Oregon Tilth. Try to choose organic if you can, since that should give you a high quality food.

4. Look for "natural."

If you can't find an organic food that your cat likes or suits you, you can go natural. These foods will avoid artificial ingredients, and include real meat, often from free range cows and chickens.

Although the term "natural" doesn't have the meaning attached to it that "organic" does, these companies will sometimes state that the ingredients come from human-grade sources.

The pet food itself is not human-grade, but the source of the meat, for example, might be cows that are slaughtered for human consumption as well. This is better than some of the lower grade ingredient sources used by some lesser quality pet food companies.

5. Learn to read cat food labels.

When reading cat food labels, there can be many misconceptions. Specifics are always better than general statements. The term "meat" for example, doesn't state what kind of meat. If the company says "our beef comes from Iowa farms" but then lists "meat" as the first ingredient, that doesn't mean the Iowa beef is the first ingredient. In fact, that beef may only be a small component of the meat they use. Where does the rest of it come from?

6. Choose manufacturers over marketers.

Some companies market pet food made by other companies. When possible, it may be better to choose a product line from a company that makes its own food. For example, Natura Pet Products has a tour of their dry food manufacturing plant on their website. This should allow them to keep tighter quality control than a company that uses, say Menu Foods to manufacture their food.

7. Let your cat decide.

Choose the food type and feeding schedule, and then choose the healthiest food you can that fits your situation. Avoid the known bad preservatives. Learn to read cat food labels, and look for specifics rather than general ingredients. Try to choose a company that makes its own food.

Then, follow food switching procedures recommended by your veterinarian, and let your cat decide. If your kitty doesn't seem to go for the new food, choose the next one down on your list and try again. After switching foods, watch your cat's eating habits, behavior, and look for weight gain or loss. If everything appears normal, you've found the best cat food!