Kitten food brands in New Zealand:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Royal Canin was the most searched kitten food brand in New Zealand, accounting for 34.7% of all searches among the four brands we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Royal Canin and Hill's showed up in every answer. Royal Canin was recommended most often, coming first in three out of four responses that gave a list.
Royal CaninShare of searches 34.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Hill'sShare of searches 29.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
WhiskasShare of searches 28%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
PurinaShare of searches 8.2%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Follow kitten food brands and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top kitten food brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Royal Canin and Hill's appeared every time. Royal Canin was recommended most often, coming first in three out of four answers that gave a list. Hill's was second, and Purina was third.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Royal Canin1st
Hill's2nd
Purina3rd
Whiskas4th
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's5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Purina4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Whiskas1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about kitten food brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which kitten food brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best kitten food brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best kitten food brand in New Zealand for young cats?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best kitten food”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“dry kitten food”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Which kitten food brands do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each kitten food brand by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all four kitten food brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Royal Canin, Hill's, Whiskas, Purina. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Royal Canin | Hill's | Whiskas | Purina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.4% | 28.9% | 26.2% | 7.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.4% | 32.5% | 24.2% | 8.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 38% | 24.8% | 27.4% | 9.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.1% | 22.6% | 30.7% | 11.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.4% | 25.3% | 30% | 9.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.2% | 28.2% | 26.2% | 9.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.2% | 24.8% | 28.1% | 9.9% |
| May 2026 | 34.3% | 27.1% | 28.1% | 10.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.6% | 27.5% | 28.5% | 10.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.9% | 23.6% | 32.7% | 9.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.3% | 26% | 31.5% | 8.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 34.7% | 29.1% | 28% | 8.2% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 34.7% | 3.1K | +1.9% | +0.4 points | |
| 2, moved from 3rd to 2nd | 29.1% | 2.6K | +12.8% | +3.1 pointsmoved from 3rd to 2nd | |
| 3, moved from 2nd to 3rd | 28% | 2.5K | -10.6% | -3.5 pointsmoved from 2nd to 3rd | |
| 4, held 4th | 8.2% | 740 | 0% | -0.1 points |
34.7%
Held 1st. 3.1K estimated branded searches, +1.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
2.
Hill's29.1%
Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 2.6K estimated branded searches, +12.8% vs prior month. Share +3.1 points.
3.
Whiskas28%
Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 2.5K estimated branded searches, -10.6% vs prior month. Share -3.5 points.
4.
Purina8.2%
Held 4th. 740 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among kitten food brands in New Zealand?
4 brands
In September 2026, Royal Canin was the most searched among kitten food brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 3.1K branded searches, 34.7% of all searches for the four we track. Hill's is in 2nd place, 5.6 percentage points behind at 29.1%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.4% → 34.7% | 38%Dec 2025 | 33.6%Jun 2026 | 1st | |
| 28.9% → 29.1% | 32.5%Nov 2025 | 22.6%Jan 2026 | 2nd | |
| 26.2% → 28% | 32.7%Jul 2026 | 24.2%Nov 2025 | 3rd | |
| 7.4% → 8.2% | 11.5%Jan 2026 | 7.4%Oct 2025 | 4th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Royal Canin’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand decreased from 37.4% to 34.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Whiskas’ share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand increased from 26.2% to 28%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Purina’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand increased from 7.4% to 8.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Royal Canin’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand peaked at 38% in December 2025 and was lowest at 33.6% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hill's’ share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand peaked at 32.5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 22.6% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Whiskas’ share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand peaked at 32.7% in July 2026 and was lowest at 24.2% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Purina’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand peaked at 11.5% in January 2026 and was lowest at 7.4% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hill's held steady: its share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand kitten food brands in September 2026?
4 changes

In September 2026, Hill's overtook Whiskas to rank 2nd among kitten food brands in New Zealand, with 29.1% of the searches.

In September 2026, Whiskas lost share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand, from 31.5% to 28%.

Royal Canin’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 33.6% to 34.7% in September 2026.

Purina’s share of searches among kitten food brands in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 10.5% to 8.2% in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands

See your own brand in this picture
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to your campaigns, spend and outcomes, so you can see what moved your numbers, not just that they moved.