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11 Best Robotic Vacuums for Pet Hair 2021 (Set & Forget It)
Tired of finding cat fur all over your house despite brushing your cat daily? Simply don’t have time to vacuum yourself every day of the week?
No problem. Add one of the best robotic vacuums for pet hair to your arsenal and you’ll no longer see cat fur tumble weeds rolling through your house like it is an abandoned town in the old west.
Table of Contents
The Best Robotic Vacuums for Pet Hair
ILIFE V3s Pro Robotic Vacuum
This is my go to Robotic Vacuum for cleaning up both cat hair and cat litter. I have it run in my house almost every day to help minimize the number of times I need to pull out my upright.
This thing is super easy to run. It rarely gets stuck or confused, and it finds its way right back to the charging station on its own to be ready for the next day. It is an absolutely awesome option if you’re looking for a robotic vacuum and the price makes it one of the best deals on the market.
A couple of key items worth noting:
“It has made cleaning up the ‘cat room’ a once a week job instead of an every day job. It sucks up both cat hair and cat litter like a champ and is completely hands off” -Craig from StuffCatswant.com
Something worth considering before purchasing:
eufy Super Quiet IQ RoboVac
If you’re looking for an excellent robot vacuum that is going to run whisper quiet then this is the model for you. Digital Trends even voted the eufy Super Quiet IQ RoboVac as the best overall robot vacuum in 2018, that’s quite the award to take home!
On top of this it was designed with a super slim profile so it slides in under those difficult to reach places to get a hold of those clumps of cat hair. It even features boost technology to suck up extra matted cat hair out of carpets and rugs!
A few notes worth adding in on this model:
“I have 4 cats and it does an amazing job picking up cat hair.”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
Samsung PowerBot Robo Pet Vacuum
Samsung is well known for cell phones these days, but they’ve been a powerhouse in electronics for decades. This is the top of the line robotic vacuum from the Samsung arsenal and it is designed for those of us that love to show off our gadgets.
The claim to fame of this model is that it delivers 40x more powerful cleaning on all floor types when compared to a conventional robot vacuum with a circular design (they tested it against several of their own competitive models).
A couple of other really fool features worth noting on this option:
Something worth considering before purchasing:
bObsweep PetHair Vacuum & Mop
This is a slight adjustment from the rest of the options I’ve shown so far. It is both a vacuum and a mop. If you have wood floors this might be right up your alley. Not only will it clean all the pet hair off the top, it will also give them that nice shiny look once it is finished by mopping them too!
Talk about a hands free way to keep your house looking clean! You really can’t do much better than a robotic vacuum and mop. There are also several colors to choose from so you can match it with your home’s decor.
A few other key items worth noting:
“Even with multiple cats and dogs in the house it keeps the fur manageable!”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
iRobot Roomba 690 for Pet Hair
If you only trust the most well known brands then the iRobot is probably the way you’ll want to lean. iRobot was the first major pioneer of the robot vacuum with their Roomba series.
After their initial release Roomba has continued to evolve in both specialty vacuums as well as in improving the technology to make robot cleaners smarter and more easy to use. This is definitely one of the most technically advanced models out there if you’re aiming for a feature rich robot vacuum.
The key features worth noting on this option are:
“With a long haired dog and several cats our house needed this….it has been perfect!!!”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
Shark ION Robot Vacuum
Shark has made a name for itself in the vacuum world for how quickly they came into the market with a high quality product at a mid range price. Shark is known for great vacuums with excellent suction and for not having to pay an arm and a leg for the device. Surprising given the name right?!
This model really is an excellent solution for every day upkeep around the house. It’ll up all sorts of cat hair, both short and long, and it’ll clean up tracked litter for you too.
A few other items worth keeping in mind on this option:
“I have 3 cats in my home and this vacuum has no issue picking up their hair even though 2 are long haired.”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
Ecovacs N79S Strong Suction Robo Vac
If you’re looking for a tried and true product then the Ecovacs N79S is an excellent option. It has sold over 5 million total units which means they have had lots of great feedback come in and they’ve improved the product based on it!
The N79s is the second generation of the original N79 which was already a great product, but this one really bumps it up an extra notch. Take a look at these awesome features to help you decide:
“No more fur tumbleweeds like my house is the old west of cat fur!”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
PureClean Pet Allergy HEPA Robo Vac
Pure Clean’s promise to you is that they will keep your home clean without you lifting a finger. You’ll of course have to lift a finger to setup the robot vacuum, but once you’ve done that it should be pretty hands off from there!
The low profile design of the Pure Clean model is specifically engineered to help it fit in under low places to get those clumps of cat hair that are clinging to the bottom of the couch or hiding in the corners under your bed.
A few other things worth pointing out to potential buyers
“It is absolutely stunning how much cat hair it will pick up the first time you use it. You won’t believe your eyes.”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
Ecovacs 2 Mode Pet Hair Robotic Vacuum
Ecovacs is specifically known for their S Shaped systematic cleaning path. The idea is that it employs a far more logical approach to cleaning floors so it doesn’t have to go over the same spots a ton of times because as it crosses the room back and forth it will already cover every spot.
It also features a Max Power cleaning mode which can increase the suction power by 2x to get those hard to clean spots spick and span with no effort from you!
A couple of other things worth noting on this model are:
Something worth considering before purchasing:
iRobot Roomba 960 for Pet Hair
This is the top of the line model from iRobot when it comes to models specifically designed to suck up cat hair and cat litter. It has extra power built in, better navigational sensors and it even features the ability to stop mid cycle for a recharge and start itself back up again.
If you’ve got anyone with allergies in the house or coming to visit the house this option also ups its game when it comes to the air filter. All in all it is a more evolved model of the 690 and it will show.
A couple of key items worth noting for anyone interested in purchasing it:
“This vacuum keeps up with mountains of pet hair from several cats and a dog”
Something worth considering before purchasing:
PureClean Pet Hair and Dander Vac
If you’re looking for a great model at an entry level price then Pure Clean brings an excellent option to the table. This has all the major features a robotic vacuum needs and it has a cost that is one third of some of the Dyson models on the market.
This model is also built specifically for pets. It has all the key changes and modifications your house needs to ensure it can suck up all that cat hair you don’t want stuck in your rugs or tumbling around on your wood floor.
A few key items worth noting:
Something worth considering before purchasing:
Additional Information
What Features Should I Consider?
Robotic vacuums are relatively unique in their features and functions compared to a traditional vacuum. They are all basically designed to operate only on the floor and they don’t have any attachments, but there are still lots of things worth considering before you make a purchase.
Scheduling Capability
If you’re looking for a robot vacuum the scheduling capability is by far one of the most important features. You’ll likely want it to run while you’re away from the house to help minimize how often you actually need to vacuum with your traditional vacuum.
Every option listed here enables you to schedule it, but some work through a mobile phone app and some have to be manually programmed with a remote control or directly on the robot. If you’re less technically handy you might want to lean toward one with a mobile app.
WiFi / Mobile App Enabled
Options that are WiFi enabled bring many additional features and functions, but most important is that you can kick off a cleaning at pretty much any time from anywhere. This is a huge perk if you don’t normally schedule your vacuum or if you know there’s a bit of a mess and you walk out of the house.
The mobile apps range from pretty basic to extremely advanced. Even the basic ones though enable you to interact with your vacuum from anywhere with a connection.
They key thing to remember here is that many of the vacuums only work on 2.4 ghz WiFi networks. Be sure to check your Wireless Router before you make a purchase so you don’t end up with a vacuum you cannot connect.
Special Cleaning Modes
There are several cleaning modes available depending upon the model you choose to go with. Some even automatically detect the surface they are on and switch modes as necessary (for example turning on the brush head on carpet).
If you have a lot of tough to pick up cat hair or messes you want your vacuum to get to then you might want to look specifically at some of the models with boost modes or extra power. This does drain the battery faster, but it’ll certainly ensure that hard to reach pet hair gets pulled out of the rug!
Brush Head
Brush Heads are basically designed to help pull hair up and out of things, in particular carpet. If you’ve got a lot of carpet in the house or numerous rugs you’ll want to explore a model with a brush head. Simple suction will only pull the loose hair up and leave anything matted or weaved in behind.
If you have all hardwood floors you’ll likely want to skip a brush head. Not only do you not really need it, but brush heads have been known to damage wood floors, especially if your cleaner gets stuck and keeps spinning the brush head.
Noise Level
Some companies claim you can run these robot vacuums while you sleep. I’m a light sleeper so I find it a little far fetched, but if you have multiple levels to your house you might be able to get away with it.
The other consideration is that if your cats are afraid of loud noises (as most are) then you may want to specifically choose an option that is on the quieter side. The easiest way to determine this is based on the power of the vacuum. The more powerful the vacuum the noisier it is likely to be.
This basically means that the Samsung and the Dyson options above are on the noisier side.
Corner & Edge Cleaning
Cleaning in corners and along edges is one of the most difficult things for robot vacuums to do, especially since most of them are shaped like a disc and the actual suction is right in the middle. There are a couple of different options for dealing with this:
- Side Brushes: These are quiet common and they are small rotating brushes that pull things away from the walls and shove them toward the center of the vacuum. Very simple and quite effective.
- Samsung Edge Tech: This is a new technology only available on Samsung. The vacuum lines itself up with the wall and then drops a small plastic edge shovel and pulls the things away from the wall. It then goes back over that space and vacuums it up.
- Wide Brush Head: A few models feature an extra wide brush head that covers more of the area under the vacuum. The idea is it doesn’t have to push everything right to the center to actually suck it up.
I find the side brushes on my iLife model very effective, even for tracked cat litter along the walls. I haven’t tried the Samsung Edge Tech yet, but I’ve seen it in numerous review videos and it looks to work quite well also.
Digital Zones / Barriers / Pylons
If you have a lot of potential drops or hazards in your home and you’d like to keep your vacuum away from them you can use Digital Zones to do so. These are something you can buy and they are small infrared lasers that basically tell the vacuum there is a wall there.
Most of the vacuums have edge / drop safety technology built in so they won’t simply drive off of stairs or over a ledge anymore, but this can still come in handy if you have complicated places or places you simply don’t want your vacuum to go.
The only real drawback is these things are unnecessarily expensive for what they are. They tend to run well into the double digits and you’d expect them to be more like $5 or $10 dollars.
Cleaning Maps & Status
If you’re a big techie or if you just like to know exactly what is going on at any point in the day then you might want to aim for one of the more advanced models. The sensors in these models will actually map out your floor and then keep you up to date on how much progress the vacuum is made.
You simply log into your mobile phone to bring up the current status and check out which parts of the floor are clean or not. Pretty slick!
HEPA Filter or Traditional Filter
If you’ve got someone with allergies in the house or someone that visits often enough then definitely opt for a model with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters will pull out 99.97% of allergens and dust in the air to ensure that as your vacuum cleans it isn’t letting any cat dander (or much of anything for that matter) escape.
Note that HEPA filters do usually require hand washing or they need to be replaced on a relatively frequent basis if you’re running your vacuum daily. This means additional work for you or an additional cost, but it can also mean a night and day difference for minimizing allergic reactions.
Battery Life
Battery life is mostly relevant if you have a very large house and you don’t have one of the models that will automatically return and resume cleaning. More advanced models can simply recharge and keep going when the battery runs low.
If you decide to opt for a less high tech version keep an eye on the battery life as anything under 60 minutes is probably not sufficient to do a very good job on any large space before it needs to return and recharge.
Mop Capability
Pretty straight forward. Vacuums only clean up dry messes and they certainly won’t pull anything off the floor like mud that has since dried. The mop capability will basically wet things down for you and then clean up.
My experience so far is that if you’re really in need of a full scale mopping you’re probably going to have to do it yourself. Very similar to a traditional vacuum versus the robotic counterpart.
What About Long Haired Cats?
If you’ve got a long haired cat then you know their hair can be even tougher to get out anything and everything. The real question you need to ask here though is whether or not you have rugs and carpet.
If you’ve got all bare floors like hard wood, tile, and laminate then any of the options above will do an excellent job sucking up long hair just as easily as short hair.
When it comes to rugs and carpet long hair seems to grab hold and just stay there no matter how many times you run a suction only vacuum over it. So you’re probably wondering if a robotic vacuum can do much about it.
The short answer is absolutely. They can do a great job at helping pull hair out, but you need to ensure you go for a version that has a brush head if you truly want them to pull long hair out of anything it can grab hold of. Many of the vacuums above are simple suction based vacuums that don’t have this capability.
Be sure to look for an option with a brush head above. One of the best is definitely the Samsung Powerbot.
Another option for helping decrease the chances of long haired cats jamming your vacuum or leaving behind tumble weeds is to be sure to brush them daily. There are tons of great brushes and deshedding tools out there for long haired cats that can help with this problem.
Will It Get Stuck All The Time?
You’ve probably heard the stories. Someone who has a robot vacuum and they kicked it off when they left the house and found it 3 feet from the charging station flipped over when they got home.
While this of course can happen, it isn’t the norm. Especially if you think intelligently about where you deploy your robot vacuum and what your home looks like.
There are a few things that can of course be difficult for robot vacuums to navigate. You should do your best to be careful of these things before you start your vacuum. Key things worth looking for:
- Electrical Cords
- Strings/Wires of any kind
- High lipped rugs
- Room transitions / dividers
I would highly recommend you stay home and watch it the first few times you run it. This ensures you can look out for problem areas and either adjust the layout of a room or pick up a problematic cord that your vacuum is getting stuck on.
There are also a few other ways you can help your vacuum along:
- Leverage digital barriers to stop your vacuum going places you don’t want it to go
- Build or create your own small physical barrier to keep the vacuum where you want it. A chair on its side does a great job in barring the robot vacuum from specific areas.
- Close doors to rooms you don’t want it to go in or that don’t need cleaning.
- Use the remote when necessary to have it spot clean a specific area with more diligence.
The vacuums have a lot of capabilities and a lot of sensors. Be sure to put them to use!
Can My Cat Ride It?
While this probably isn’t the key question you’re considering in making your purchase it is probably something that has crossed your mind. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of YouTube videos of cats riding around on robot vacuums, and if you haven’t here is one of my favorites.
The short answer to this question though is that most cats will be too scared of the robot vacuum to go anywhere near it. While this certainly won’t apply to all cats, it will to most cats.
For those that are not scared I would encourage you to deter your cat from riding your robot vacuum. While most of them probably won’t suffer terrible, especially from a small cat, they will eventually cause damage to the motor which can break the vacuum.
Given these vacuums are no small investment you’ll want to do your best to ensure that the life of your vacuum is as long as possible. Keep your cat off your vacuum if you can. There are plenty of videos you can watch of cats on robo vacuums on YouTube already.
Will It Replace a Traditional Vacuum?
Robot vacuums will not replace a traditional vacuum. Although the technology is getting better and getting smarter on a monthly basis, there’s simply some places that a robot vacuum cannot handle.
There are a few key things you’ll probably still need a traditional vacuum for:
- Stairs of any kind – Robot vacuums are good at avoiding them, but not good at cleaning them
- Low profile furniture – Robot vacuums often get stuck or simply bump into low furniture
- Long carpet – Most of these vacuums simply can’t handle long carpet
- Upholstery – If you want to be able to vacuum off your couches or chairs look elsewhere
- Drapes – Vacuuming drapes with a robotic vacuum is simply out of the question
You might be saying to yourself “Well what the heck are they good for then?!?!” They are great for many things, in particular keeping things manageable on the floors of your house between deeper cleanings.
I use mine on a consistent basis to:
- Quickly run over my hardwood floors near the litter box
- Run through the living room while I’m gone at work to suck up hair and tracked litter
- Do single room cleanings when I am too lazy to vacuum myself
Kicking this thing off once a day is an excellent way to help control the amount of fur you’ll find scattered throughout your house. On the bright side it might also wake your cats up while you are gone if you run it on a schedule.
I purposely run mine in the middle of the day just because it keeps my cats from sleeping the entire time I’m gone. They aren’t afraid of it like a traditional vacuum, but they keep their eyes on it none the less. Added bonus to help them sleep at night!
If you’re looking for great traditional upright or canister style vacuums for cat hair and litter then check out my guide here.
Wrap Up on The Best Robotic Vacuums for Pet Hair 2018
If you haven’t decided whether or not to add a robo vacuum to your arsenal of tools at home that’s quite alright. There are so many features and functions it can be tough to make a decision.
I would however highly recommend you do consider one. Adding one to my home has decreased the amount of fur I find floating all over and also heavily decreased the number of times I find litter stuck to the bottom of a foot.
Robotic Vacuums are a huge benefit when you set the right expectations for them. They’ll make your life a heck of a lot easier if you’re willing to kick them off each day and then just empty out the dust bin.
If you have any questions or a robotic vacuum that has worked well in your house please leave a comment below and tell us all about your experience!
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
The 15 Best Vacuums for Cats 2021 [They Totally Suck]
Let’s face it, no matter what kind of litter you use or what kind of cat you have you’re still going to need to vacuum. Constantly. Probably every day if not every other day.
You’re going to want to look at the best vacuums for cats to ensure you get the job done right. I’ve researched thoroughly and used several myself to pull this list together.
Table of Contents
The Best Vacuums for Cats
-Upright Vacuums-
Bissel Cleanview Bagless Pet Vacuum
Bissell has been in the market for a long time and they have a name that means trust and reliability when it comes to vacuums. The Cleanview Bagless Pet model is one of their most recent options to come out and it is specifically designed for cat hair and cat litter.
It is super lightweight for an upright and the swivel steering will make it easy for you to navigate around any and all home obstacles. It is also multi surface so you can use it on bare floors or carpet! A few other things worth noting:
“Finally, I managed to find a vacuum that picks up the cat hair!”
Shark TruePet Bagless Lift-Away
Shark brings to bear one of the coolest vacuums on the market. It is primarily an upright vacuum, but if you need to get into a tight spot and use the attachments you can easily lift the canister and move into the desired area.
Tired of not being able to reach that last step? Or tired of not being able to get that tuft of cat hair floating around and hanging off the cabinets? Shark has you covered. Just push a button and lift the canister to reach whatever you need to.
A few other things worth noting on this model:
“This thing works spectacularly on sucking up cat hair!”
Dyson Ball Animal Vacuum
Dyson has made a name for itself with high quality products that tend to both look and feel innovative. They’ve broken the mold in vacuums, hand dryers, even home fans. Purchasing a Dyson will of course get the job done, but it’ll also ensure you get any job done in style. That includes sucking up cat hair and litter.
This vacuum features some of the best suction of any vacuum on the market. On top of this Dyson outfits this model with all of the accessories you’ll need to get cat hair out of pretty much anything or anywhere.
A couple of other things worth noting:
“I have four long haired felines and it is the best thing ever for giant clumps of fur!”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Canister Vacuums-
Bissell Zing Bagged & Corded
If you’re tired of heavy vacuums that are hard to navigate through tight places or up and down stairs then this is the vacuum for you. Canister vacuums in general are much lighter and are easy to move almost anywhere.
This vacuum is specifically designed to be lightweight and it features an easy carry handle so it is comfortable in your hand.
“Never had a better vacuum. We have two cats who spread litter all over the house and it picks up litter as well as fur and dirt. Highly recommended.”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Eureka Mighty Mite Pet Vacuum
If you’re looking for power but don’t want something heavy then the Mighty Mite is just for you. Weighing in at less than 9 pounds this is an amazing canister vacuum. It is super mobile when on the ground, but even more so because it is so light to pick up!
It also features full scale HEPA filters ensuring that you’ll not only suck up cat hair and cat litter, but you’ll also filter all that darn cat dander out of the air!
A few other key items worth noting:
“This is the perfect solution for lightweight and powerful kitty litter pick-ups which is what I wanted and needed.”
Ovente Bagless Cyclonic w/ Pet Brush
If you love the mobility and lightweight features of a canister vacuum and you don’t want to deal with bags then Ovente has you covered. This is best bagless canister vacuum out there with pet focused attachments.
It’ll help you pull pet hair out of those hard to reach places and it’ll still be just as mobile as any other canister vacuum you might want to consider.
“It sucked up all the litter from the nooks and crannies, even in the chairs in my living room. That was a huge relief.”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Stick Vacuums-
Dyson Cyclone V10 Cat Vacuum
If you’re looking for a cordless vacuum with serious power then look no farther. Dyson has basically made a name for itself with extremely powerful vacuums and this one is no different. It is the power powerful cordless vacuum on the market.
This means it’ll have no trouble sucking up both cat litter and cat hair. It’ll even help you suck up those bits of cat food your little mess makers have knocked out of the bowl and ignored.
A few other things worth noting on this model:
“It is perfect for cleaning pet hair off my furniture and blinds. It also does a nice job on tracked litter in my apartment.”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Shark DuoClean Ultra-Light Vacuum
This ultra lightweight model from Shark features DuoClean Technology which means it has a bristle brush to deep clean carpets and a soft brush that gets those larger particles to leave floors looking polished. Because it doesn’t have a battery it is lighter weight than many of the other stick and handheld models.
This model was specifically put together to feature a pet multi tool which allows it to easily suck up all that pet hair that gets so stubbornly stuck in pretty much everything! A few other items worth noting:
“We have way too many cats and even a few dogs…and it didn’t sling anything back on my feet while in use. It literally polished the floors and picked up all of the hair and litter too!”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Puppyoo Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Dyson stick vacuum is definitely great, but it is also quite expensive. If you’re looking for a more accessible model price wise then you’ll want to consider the Puppyoo 536. It is very competitive in almost every way, but it blows Dyson out of the park on price.
Let’s dig into a few of the key items we cat owners will care about:
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Handheld Vacuums-
HoLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum
If your cats are all over your furniture, like most cats are, then you probably want a handheld vacuum to help pick up what they leave behind. And you probably want to be able to do it in a quick and easy fashion.
This HoLife handheld cordless vacuum makes is super easy to pull out and take care of a quick cleanup job. Got company coming over and your cat just tracked litter all over the couch and the wood floor? This vacuum is lightweight, powerful, and has a long lasting battery. It’ll make that emergency cleanup a breeze.
A quick rundown of key items worth noting:
“I keep it right by the litter box so I can sweep up the litter that the cats track out on the floor before they track it through the rest of the house.”
It is also worth considering the following before making a purchase:
Bissell Cordless Pet Hair Eraser
If you’re looking for a vacuum that not only looks cool and does a killer job, but also has an amazing name, then look no farther. The Pet Hair Eraser not only sounds awesome, its performance lives up to its ridiculously cool name.
I highly recommend you use the name of this vacuum as a conversation starter with other pet owners. There are a couple of key items worth noting on this model as well:
“Great hand held vacuum that easily sucks up the cat litter between deep cleaning sessions.”
There is one item you’ll want to consider before purchasing:
Bissell Corded Pet Hair Eraser
This is the original Pet Hair Eraser. It has all the power you need to pull pet hair out of pretty much any surface because it was designed to do just that. The corded version gives you the extra power you need to get that pet hair that seems like it is glued to your couch or chair.
The only thing worth noting is that with great power comes great responsibility. You’ll probably need to send fluffy off to another room before flipping this guy on because it is pretty powerful and it might scare your cat!
A few other items worth noting:
“It managed to suck out the cat hair that was weaved into the couch cushions and made the cat tree look brand new!”
One key item worth noting before clicking the buy button:
Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum
Shark has recently become one of the top names in the world of vacuums and there’s a reason for that. Their vacuums are amazing. They do a great job, they are affordable and you’ll absolutely love how easy and lightweight they are!
This Shark model will have you wanting to clean your house. You’ll want to pick it up to watch how much stuff it manages to suck up out of your couches, rugs and chairs. It’s an absolute delight to see it clean. There are a couple of key items you’ll want to know:
“I’ve got 3 cats in the house. This does a great job on my stairs & their cat trees.”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Robotic Vacuums-
iRobot Roomba 690
If you’re looking for a robot slave to do your dirty work for you then the iRobot Roomba is a great option. Robot vacuums are excellent options for someone who has another vacuum and uses this on a daily basis just to help in between deep clean sessions.
I love my robot vacuum, it does an excellent job in a hands off manner. But it doesn’t solve the problem of litter on the couch or litter that gets stuck in corners and crevices, for that you’ll need something else.
But robo vacuums are an excellent addition that will minimize your need to vacuum daily. Here are the key features worth noting on this model:
“It does an awesome job cleaning up cat hair and litter!”
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Electricity Free Options-
Electrostatic Floor Sweeper
If you’re looking for something whisper quiet and powered by your own strength then this is a great consideration. Not only will it pick up cat litter and cat hair, but it’ll do so without ever being plugged in or charged.
The sweeper basically creates an electrostatic charge as you move it along the floor and that enables it to easily pull things off of both bare floors and even on low pile carpet floors. It is also light as a feather since all the weight sits on the ground!
A few other great things worth noting:
“Easily gets 5 stars for the removal of cat hair, cat litter and cat litter dust on high-pile carpet, medium-pile area rug and porcelain tile floors.”
It is worth noting the following:
Additional Information
Core Vacuum Types for Consideration
You’re of course welcome to consider any vacuum you’d like, but in my opinion your best bet lies in both upright and canister vacuums. Beyond that both stick and hand held vacuums have nice perks and special use cases that most households will find handy.
Robo vacuums of course have their place too, but I wouldn’t consider one to do the entire job, especially since they tend to have trouble in corners and crevices. But let’s take a look at some of the best types!
Upright Vacuums
Pros: Uprights are usually quite a bit cheaper than your typical canister vacuum. They are also a heck of a lot better at cleaning carpets, specifically if you get a model with a bag. They’re also of course very easy to store given they sit upright and don’t take up much space.
Cons: Some uprights can be hard on your arm and wrist, especially if you use them daily. They have quite a bit of weight to them and with the pull from the carpet they can put a lot of strain on you, especially when they weigh 20 pounds! Uprights also are usually quite a bit noisier than canisters vacuums.
Canister Vacuums
Pros: You’ll usually find that canister models are great at cleaning hardwood and tile floors. They usually also have quite a few attachments to make it easy to clean things like the couch and chairs where your cat spends a lot of time sleeping. Canisters are generally quieter and the power head makes them seem lighter because a hefty chunk of the weight is right on the floor.
Cons: They don’t tend to do as great of a job on carpets as your typical upright. They can also be a pain in the butt to store because they’re usually not a single unit and the hose/attachments don’t usually directly attach to the canister.
Stick Vacuums
Pros: Stick vacuums are named as such because the motor is usually up near the handle and there’s a long tube resembling a stick that reaches down to the floor. This makes it nice and easy on your back, no bending over. Most stick vacuums are both lightweight and battery-powered so you can take them pretty much anywhere.
Cons: Stick vacuums don’t have the same amount of power or capability to do deep cleaning. Stick vacuums are designed to pick up items on the floor that are lightweight and visible. To maintain their light weight they usually have limited capacity and require frequent emptying.
Hand-Held Vacuums
Pros: Hand held vacuums are great because they are small, lightweight, and you can get them with or without a cord. They’re great for cleaning up a quick mess in a tight spot and generally work best on bare floors, though some also do have attachments for other things.
Cons: Due to their limited size and weight they often have shorter battery life and require frequent trips to empty out the receptacle.
Robotic Vacuums
Pros: If you absolutely hate vacuuming then a robotic vacuum can help solve your problems. Robo vacuums are designed to clean things up on their own. Depending on the model they can run on a schedule or you can kick them off whenever you like for spot cleaning. New models often have the ability to be started and stopped from a mobile application too.
Cons: Robo vacuums can get stuck and have difficulty reaching small tight spots because of their size. They also require constant emptying, almost every time they run in a household with cats.
Specialty Vacuums for Unique Needs
Shop Vacuums
Pros: Unrivaled power compared to other types of vacuums. They will pick up most anything, including wet messes, and they work on any type or floor. Great to consider if you have a huge number of cats and a specific room where there might be numerous litter boxes and a recurring mess.
Cons: They are incredibly noisy and they are often difficult to move around. They are also usually quite heavy given the size of the motor included and they take up lots of space for storage too.
Backpack Vacuums
Pros: Backpack vacuums are generally used in commercial application, but you can certainly apply some of the home models to your household. Backpack vacuums are super mobile, you rarely need to unplug them, and they usually have a pretty powerful motor too.
Cons: The biggest drawbacks of backpack vacuums are that they tend to be quite loud and that you’ll actually need to strap the vacuum onto your back every time you want to use it.
Central Vacuums
Pros: They’re easier to use than most vacuums because all you have to do is bring the actual tube and extension with you. There’s no motor to pull along with you. Central vacuums are also quite quiet because the motor is removed from the location of vacuuming. Their dirt receptacle also rarely needs to be emptied because the central location provides ample space.
Cons: Central vacuums are pricey and can require professional installation. If you aren’t building a new home or gut rehabbing one then it is unlikely you’ll want to explore this option. The hoses are quite large in making up for the lack of a power cord so they can be hassle to store.
What Types Perform Best for Cats?
If you’re buying a vacuum because you have cats then you have a few key things you’re trying to pick up:
- Cat hair
- Cat litter
- Cat dander
- Cats nails
To say the least Upright and Canister vacuums are by far the best choices for larger projects or an entire household. They perform well at picking up most anything and are versatile.
They will be the most likely to pick up litter and cat hair on a consist basis without having to push the vacuum back and forth over the same area again and again.
It is important to note your likelihood to use the vacuum though. If you’re as lazy as I often am then you’ll want to look at a robotic vacuum that you can schedule to run daily to help pick up some of the slack. This will decrease the need to vacuum every single day by picking up a bit every day.
What Features Should I Consider?
Bagged or Bagless
The key concern to keep in mind with bagged vacuums is that you’re going to have to keep buying bags. That being said, bagless vacuums have recurring costs as well. You’ll need to clean the HEPA filters or full on replace them after a period of time. Emptying the receptacle of a bagless vacuum can easily get your nose and mouth filled with dust and pet dander as well. If you you have asthma you’ll want to watch out for this.
Bagged vacuums also tend to lose their effectiveness once the bag is over half full. Given this you’ll need to replace bags often to maintain full efficiency.
Motorized Brushes
Suction will only get you so far if you’re trying to deep clean, especially on a carpeted floor. Motorized brush get you one step further by actually spinning and pulling debris off of the floor.
But you’ll want to be careful because the brushes are rather rigid and they can damage a wood floor quite easily. If you have both bare and carpet floors you’ll want to consider a vacuum with a switch that can deactivate the brushes. This ensures you don’t damage your bare floors and it will help minimize scattering cat litter all over the place too.
Noise Levels
Vacuums in general are a bit noisy, but if you have a house with bare floors this will likely seem even louder. Robot vacuums tend to be quite quiet and canister vacuums tend to run quieter than their upright counterparts.
Adjustable Height
If you’ve got carpet floors or lots of rugs in your house then you will want to keep an eye out for a vacuum that allows you to adjust the height of the head. Without this capability you either never get a deep enough clean or you can feel like you’re dragging around an extra 20 pounds while you vacuum.
Filter Type
Vacuums these days range pretty extensively in the quality of the filters they provide. The most common type of filter you’ll find these days is a HEPA filter. If anyone in your immediate or extended family has cat allergies then a HEPA filter is a must
Cord Type
This may be a small item, but some folks absolutely hate pick up and winding up cords. Several models out there these days have cords that automatically retract into the vacuum to save you the hassle.
Battery Life
For both stick and handheld vacuums you’ll want to take a look at the size and expected life of the batteries, especially if you have a larger home and your closet or storage area doesn’t have a plug to charge the vacuum from. While generally you won’t use a hand held vacuum for an extended session you’ll also want to ensure you aren’t constantly pulling it out to charge it on the kitchen counter.
Weight
I still remember pushing my old Kirby around the house with carpet floors as a kid. It was brutal. It felt like it weighed as much as I did. Vacuums have come a long way in the past 10 years.
Most are pretty light weight. But be sure to take a look at the weight before you decide on a model, especially for handhelds and stick vacuums where you’ll be supporting the bulk of the weight during use.
Attachments
Even if you’re buying a vacuum specifically for cat cleanup you’ll still want to consider the other scenarios you’ll use it for in the house. Attachments can make cleaning drapes, cars, tight spots, etc. far easier. Keep a close eye on any attachments you think you might need.
Why Is My Cat Afraid of the Vacuum?
Why Your Cat Is Afraid:
Many of us have cats that bolt at the first sign of the vacuum, even before you turn it on. My cat Lexi knows the sound of our vacuum rolling on the wood floor and usually runs and hides the second she hears it.
There’s a pretty straight forward explanation to this behavior. Vacuums are quite loud and they aren’t around often. So cats often feel like the vacuum pops up, makes a ton of noise, chases them from room to room as they find new new hiding spots…then all of a sudden disappears!
You might be equally afraid if you had no idea what was going and why the vacuum was coming out. But if you’re wondering why you’re probably more interested in what you can do to help.
What You Can Do To Help:
There are a few things you can do to assist your cat in relation to the vacuum.
Option 1: Move Your Cat Preemptively
Lexi, as I mentioned, dislikes the vacuum a lot. The second she hears it she hides. But Lexi is also a cat that doesn’t mind being picked up and doesn’t mind the vacuum if she is behind a closed door while it runs.
The easiest thing to do is pick her up and put her in a room I don’t plan to vacuum or that I can vacuum later as part of a rotation. It is a simple process: Move the cat, vacuum, move the cat, vacuum, done! Voila! Problem solved.
Option 2: Acclimate Your Cat to the Vacuum
Cats can also be taught to largely ignore the vacuum. While I doubt you’ll ever get them to sleep through it, you can actually slowly introduce the vacuum to them so they don’t freak out the second it flips on.
Ideally you can approach this when your cat is young and they haven’t yet developed a fear of the vacuum yet. But even if your cat is an adult you can work on this by having another person vacuum in a different part of the house while you feed your kitty treats or play her.
She’ll gradually associate positive things with the sound of the vacuum and should grow out of her fear. If you want to explore this in more detail check out this excellent article by Cat Behavior Associates on getting your cat used to the vacuum.
Can I Vacuum My Cat Safely?
Maybe. More than anything it’ll depend on the cat. Since many cats run off at the sound of the vacuum you should already have a pretty good idea of whether or not this is even an option.
If you have a pretty laid back cat that doesn’t mind the noise then you can certainly give it a shot. There are even specific vacuums that come with attachments designed for this purpose. The idea is that if you vacuum the cat off less hair will make it to the floor.
Dyson makes a specific pet attachment that you can attach to most of their upright vacuums to suck the hair right off your cat. The attachment is designed to ensure that you never actually get full section on your cat where you might hurt them.
To be direct, most cats will likely never allow you to vacuum them. Instead you’re more likely to have to brush them to help minimize clumps of hair floating or rolling through your house. If you have a long haired cat this is even more important.
I personally recommend brushing your cat over vacuuming anyway. It is far better for removing potential mats and it is far more personal which will help develop a better bond between you and your feline friend. If you’re looking for a good high quality brush then check out this article.
How Do I Decrease Litter Tracking?
Behind cat hair, tracked litter is probably the second most common reason cat owners have to vacuum on such a consistent basis. It can be infuriatingly difficult to stop too, especially if you have multiple cats in the house!
Litter tracking can be battled, but it usually cannot be completely stopped. There are a few things you can do to help minimize tracked litter:
- Get yourself a high quality litter mat immediately, it is your best line of defense
- Consider a top entry litter box or a piece of litter box furniture
- Look into other types of litter, crystals, paper & pine are good options
- You may also want to consider getting a groomer to trim your cat’s paw fur
If you’re looking for a more in depth guide on litter tracking you can find it here.
Wrap Up On The Best Vacuums For Cats
Having a cat basically means making a lifetime commitment to having cat fur and cat litter all over the place all the time. Just kidding. You can easily solve this problem with the right vacuum and the right schedule.
There are some other great things you can consider to help minimize litter tracking and help minimize how much your kitties shed all over the house. These will certainly help you along the right path and minimize the vacuuming, but they certainly won’t stop it.
If you’ve got any additional thoughts or have a vacuum you absolutely love then please leave a comment below and tell us all about it!
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References: Consumer Reports, Dyson, Bissell, Shark