---
title: "Kitten food brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the kitten food brands brands people buy. Share of Search among Royal Canin, Hill's, Whiskas and Purina, the kitten food brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-kitten-food-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Kitten food brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?

Compare the kitten food brands brands people buy. Share of Search among Royal Canin, Hill's, Whiskas and Purina, the kitten food brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Kitten food brands
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 4
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Royal Canin, 34.7%

## Which brand is most popular in search among kitten food brands in New Zealand?

- 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%.
- 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.

## 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.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Royal Canin | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Hill's | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Purina | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Whiskas | 4th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about kitten food brands

- Asked ChatGPT "Which kitten food brand should I buy in New Zealand?": 1. Royal Canin, 2. Hill's, 3. Purina, 4. Whiskas
- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best kitten food brands in New Zealand?": 1. Royal Canin, 2. Hill's, 3. Purina
- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best kitten food brand in New Zealand for young cats?": 1. Royal Canin, 2. Hill's, 3. Purina
- Searched Google, AI Overview "best kitten food": 1. Hill's, 2. Royal Canin
- Searched Google, AI Overview "dry kitten food": 1. Royal Canin, 2. Hill's, 3. Purina

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Royal Canin vs Hill's: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hills-vs-royal-canin): 34.7% against 29.1% Share of Search.
- [Royal Canin vs Whiskas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/royal-canin-vs-whiskas): 34.7% against 28% Share of Search.
- [Royal Canin vs Purina: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/purina-vs-royal-canin): 34.7% against 8.2% Share of Search.
- [Hill's vs Whiskas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hills-vs-whiskas): 29.1% against 28% Share of Search.
- [Hill's vs Purina: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hills-vs-purina): 29.1% against 8.2% Share of Search.
- [Whiskas vs Purina: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/purina-vs-whiskas): 28% against 8.2% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand kitten food brands in September 2026?

- 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.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Royal Canin | 34.7% | 3.1K | +1.9% | Mars |
| 2 | Hill's | 29.1% | 2.6K | +12.8% | Hill's |
| 3 | Whiskas | 28% | 2.5K | -10.6% | Mars |
| 4 | Purina | 8.2% | 740 | 0.0% | Nestlé |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Royal Canin | 3.1K | 37.4% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Hill's | 2.4K | 28.9% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Whiskas | 2.2K | 26.2% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Purina | 620 | 7.4% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Royal Canin | 2.5K | 34.4% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Hill's | 2.4K | 32.5% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Whiskas | 1.8K | 24.2% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Purina | 650 | 8.8% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Royal Canin | 2.7K | 38% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Whiskas | 1.9K | 27.4% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Hill's | 1.7K | 24.8% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Purina | 690 | 9.8% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Royal Canin | 2.8K | 35.1% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Whiskas | 2.4K | 30.7% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Hill's | 1.8K | 22.6% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Purina | 910 | 11.5% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Royal Canin | 2.8K | 35.4% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Whiskas | 2.4K | 30% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Hill's | 2K | 25.3% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Purina | 740 | 9.3% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Royal Canin | 3.5K | 36.2% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Hill's | 2.7K | 28.2% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Whiskas | 2.5K | 26.2% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Purina | 910 | 9.5% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Royal Canin | 3.4K | 37.2% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Whiskas | 2.6K | 28.1% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Hill's | 2.3K | 24.8% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Purina | 910 | 9.9% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Royal Canin | 3K | 34.3% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Whiskas | 2.4K | 28.1% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Hill's | 2.3K | 27.1% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Purina | 910 | 10.5% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Royal Canin | 2.9K | 33.6% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Whiskas | 2.5K | 28.5% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Hill's | 2.4K | 27.5% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Purina | 910 | 10.5% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Royal Canin | 3K | 33.9% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Whiskas | 2.9K | 32.7% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Hill's | 2.1K | 23.6% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Purina | 870 | 9.8% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Royal Canin | 3.1K | 34.3% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Whiskas | 2.8K | 31.5% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Hill's | 2.3K | 26% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Purina | 740 | 8.2% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | Royal Canin | 3.1K | 34.7% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Hill's | 2.6K | 29.1% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Whiskas | 2.5K | 28% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Purina | 740 | 8.2% | 4 |

## What is being compared

- **Hill's**: Measured on the search terms “hill's”, “hills”, “hills biome”, “hills derm complete”, “hills digestive care”, “hills gastrointestinal biome”, “hills metabolic”, “hills metabolic mobility”, “hills prescription diet”, “hills puppy food” and “hills science diet”, summed into one figure.
- **Purina**: Measured on the search terms “purina” and “purina kitten food”, summed into one figure.
- **Royal Canin**: Measured on the search terms “royal canin”, “royal canin gi”, “royal canin hypo”, “royal canin kitten” and “royalcanin”, summed into one figure.
- **Whiskas**: Measured on the search terms “cat biscuits whiskas”, “cat whiskas food”, “whiskas” and “whiskas kitten food”, summed into one figure.

- [Hill's](/demand/nz/brands/hills)
- [Purina](/demand/nz/brands/purina)
- [Royal Canin](/demand/nz/brands/royal-canin)
- [Whiskas](/demand/nz/brands/whiskas)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among kitten food brands in New Zealand?

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.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Kitten food brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-kitten-food-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-kitten-food-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.