Hill's vs Iams:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Hill's had more branded searches than Iams among cat food brands worldwide. Hill's had about 450,000 branded searches, while Iams had 66,200. Hill's made up 34.8% of all cat food brand searches we track, and Iams accounted for 5.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cat food brands, Hill's appeared in four of the five answers and Iams in three. Hill's was mentioned before Iams in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Hill's, about 7 searches for every 1 for Iams
Who does AI mention more?
Hill's, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Iams in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Hill's, named ahead of Iams in 3 of 4 answers
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Top cat food brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hill's was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Iams was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hill's was listed before Iams in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Hill's1st
Iams2nd
Royal Canin3rd
Fancy Feast4th
Whiskas–
ZIWI Peak–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Royal Canin5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Hill's4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Iams3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Fancy Feast2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Whiskas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
ZIWI Peak0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about cat food brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which cat food brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best cat food brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best cat food brand for daily feeding?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cat food brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best cat food”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Hill's or Iams more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hill's and Iams by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six cat food brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Hill's, Iams. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Royal Canin | Hill's | Whiskas | Iams | Fancy Feast | ZIWI Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.4% | 36.3% | 10.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.1% | 36.1% | 10.8% | 3.9% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.9% | 35.1% | 12.9% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 1.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.4% | 36.3% | 10.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 43% | 35.2% | 12.9% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.4% | 28.6% | 10.5% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 43% | 35.1% | 12.9% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 2.2% |
| May 2026 | 42.9% | 35.1% | 12.9% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 2.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 43% | 35.2% | 12.9% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 2% |
| Jul 2026 | 42.8% | 35% | 12.8% | 4.2% | 3.1% | 2% |
| Aug 2026 | 47.3% | 31.6% | 11.6% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 1.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.5% | 34.8% | 12.7% | 5.1% | 3.1% | 1.8% |
How has the Hill's and Iams comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Hill's was ahead of Iams in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hill's’ share of searches among cat food brands worldwide moved from 36.3% to 34.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Iams’ share of searches among cat food brands worldwide moved from 4% to 5.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.2K to 66.2K.
How did search popularity change for cat food brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Hill's gained share of searches among cat food brands worldwide, from 31.6% to 34.8%.

In September 2026, Iams gained share of searches among cat food brands worldwide, from 4.2% to 5.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hill's’ and Iams’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among cat food brands

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