Brandwave

Iams vs Royal Canin:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Iams and Royal Canin were level in searches among cat food brands in the United States, with an estimated 22.2K branded searches each, at 7.8% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cat food brands, Royal Canin appeared in four of the five answers and Iams in one. Royal Canin was mentioned before Iams in every answer.

Among cat food brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Iams and Royal Canin are searched for about as often as each other.

Iams 22.2K searchesRoyal Canin 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Royal Canin, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Iams in 1

Royal Canin in 4 of 5Iams in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Royal Canin, named ahead of Iams in every answer

Royal Canin first in 4Iams never first

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Top cat food brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Royal Canin was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Iams was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Royal Canin was listed before Iams in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Hill's1st
  2. Purina Pro Plan2nd
  3. Royal Canin3rd
  4. Smalls4th
  5. Fancy Feast4th
  6. Purina ONE6th
  7. Weruva7th
  8. Blue Buffalo8th
  9. Iams9th
  10. Meow Mix9th
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Royal Canin4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Purina Pro Plan4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hill's4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Purina ONE2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Smalls1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fancy Feast1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Iams1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Meow Mix1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Blue Buffalo1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Weruva1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about cat food brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 27, 2026.

Is Iams or Royal Canin more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Iams and Royal Canin by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 cat food brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Iams and Royal Canin among cat food brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Iams, Royal Canin. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSmallsFriskiesFancy FeastIamsMeow MixPurina ONERoyal CaninShebaBlue BuffaloPurina Pro PlanTiki CatHill'sWellnessWeruva9Lives
Oct 202521.4%7.9%6.4%6.4%6.4%6.4%11.7%5.2%6.4%11.7%3.5%0.84%2.3%2.3%0.84%
Nov 202518.3%6.7%5.5%6.7%6.7%6.7%12.2%5.5%6.7%15%3.7%0.88%2.4%2.4%0.73%
Dec 202519%7%5.7%7%5.7%7%12.7%5.7%7%12.7%3.8%0.91%2.8%2.5%0.75%
Jan 202619.7%7.2%5.9%5.9%5.9%5.9%10.8%5.9%5.9%16.1%3.9%0.96%2.6%2.6%0.77%
Feb 202619.9%7.3%6%7.3%6%6%10.9%6%7.3%13.3%3.3%1.2%2.4%2.2%0.96%
Mar 202621.8%8%5.3%6.6%5.3%6.6%8%5.3%6.6%14.6%3.6%2.4%3.1%1.9%0.86%
Apr 202623.1%8.5%5.7%5.7%5.7%5.7%6.9%5.7%5.7%15.5%3.8%2.5%2.1%2.5%1.1%
May 202622.2%8.1%5.4%5.4%5.4%6.7%8.1%6.7%5.4%14.9%3.6%2.4%2%2.4%1.1%
Jun 202616.9%7.6%6.2%7.6%6.2%9.2%9.2%7.6%6.2%11.3%4.1%2.8%2.3%2.2%0.82%
Jul 202616.3%7.3%6%7.3%6%8.9%10.9%7.3%6%10.9%4%3.3%2.4%2.7%0.79%
Aug 202616.1%8.8%7.2%7.2%7.2%8.8%7.2%7.2%5.9%10.7%4.8%3.2%2.4%2.6%0.78%
Sep 202617.3%9.5%7.8%7.8%7.8%7.8%7.8%7.8%6.3%6.3%5.2%2.8%2.6%2.3%1%

How has the Iams and Royal Canin comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Iams was ahead of Royal Canin in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Iams’ share of searches among cat food brands in the United States moved from 6.4% to 7.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 22.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Royal Canin’s share of searches among cat food brands in the United States moved from 11.7% to 7.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 22.2K.

How did search popularity change for United States cat food brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Iams overtook Purina Pro Plan and Purina ONE to rank 4th among cat food brands in the United States, with 7.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Royal Canin overtook Purina Pro Plan to rank 7th among cat food brands in the United States, with 7.8% of the searches.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Iams’ and Royal Canin’s 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.

Iams

1 branded search term

  • iams cat food

Royal Canin

1 branded search term

  • royal canin cat food

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cat food brands

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