8 Best Vacuum Cleaners For Cat Litter

8 Best Vacuum Cleaners For Cat Litter

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Dealing with cat litter is an issue every cat owner faces. Some how all the litter does not stay in the box and gets tracked all over the house.

Fortunately, there are products like a vacuum cleaner to make life with your cat a bit cleaner. When it comes to dealing with cat litter though, not all vacuum cleaners are created equal.

We have come up with a list of the best vacuums for picking up cat litter, as well as other important information you will want to know before deciding which product is best for you and your cleaning needs.

Can Cat Litter Ruin a Vacuum?

Of course using a vacuum to clean up kitty litter is the ideal way to go but will it ruin your vacuum? The answer is yes it can.

While it is okay to vacuum cat litter, it is better to use a vacuum specifically made for the job. Not all vacuums can handle cat litter well and there are certain challenges when using a vacuum cleaner not specifically designed for it. Cat litter can do some serious damage to your vacuum cleaner, like clog it up or cause damage to moving parts.

Choosing the right cat litter can minimize the amount of cleaning you need to do. Of course a non-tracking cat litter can minimize your workload.

But a clumping litter can act like concrete when it gets wet, and then it is like you’re sucking up rocks that can slowly damage a regular vacuum cleaner.

Can Any Vacuum Handle Cat Litter?

Your vacuum may not be designed to handle cat litter and other hard particles. By using it to remove cat litter, you risk damaging the mechanical components. Also the dust from the litter can clog up the filters.

Another issue that you need to deal with is the smell. This is one of the real struggles cat owners have when vacuuming cat litter because odor tends to stay in the filer or bags of vacuums.

Removing the unwanted odor from your vacuum cleaner can be hard to do too and in that case a bag-less vacuum could be ideal.

Best Rated Vacuum Cleaners For Cat Litter Comparison Chart

The 8 Best Rated Vacuum Cleaners For Cat Litter Reviewed

#1 Shark Canister TruePet Upright Vacuum

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This vacuum is one of the more expensive options but you get what you pay for. With its special motorized brush and multi pet tool it picks up pet hair and litter like no other in its category.

Reviews compare it to the more expensive Dyson brand with a much lower price. The vacuum offers an anti-allergen technology that has been proven to trap over 99.9% of dust and allergens in the vacuum while passing through the included HEPA filter.

The canister is easy to empty by just clicking a button and it comes with lights on the floor nozzle as well as handles that make it easy to maneuver and see in darker corners.

#2 The Dyson Ball Animal Pet Vacuum

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If money is no issue to invest in a high-end vacuum, then the Dyson Animal is a great choice. It is lightweight  at just 5 pounds and is easy to maneuver.

This model is bagless and very easy to empty. The unique pivoting Dyson ball makes it very easy to steer into tight spaces like around the litter box. The Dyson vacuum can pick up almost anything  making it ideal for hair and litter pieces.

#3 Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Tempo Bagged

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Hoover created this vacuum with pet owners in mind and offers everything a pet owner needs for hair and litter clean up. The WindTunnel technology allows the vacuum to pick up embedded dirt, dust and hair and minimizes any type of blow back or scatter on the carpet.

This model does use bags but the bags are activated Carbon HEPA bags made to trap dust and pollen. Some reviewers appreciate the ease of tossing the bag instead of emptying a canister, but its all personal preference.

#4 Bissell Bolt Lithium-Ion Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum – Discontinued

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If you are looking for a cordless vacuum cleaner that you can carry to any room then this is the one for you. This stick vacuum cleaner comes with a removable handle, to help users maneuver around easily. The advanced pet hair brush roll is rubber to help pickup hair and debris on all surfaces.

It is great when it is time to store the machine in a small space because of its folding handle. Reviewers agree the quality and effective cleaning of pet dander and cat litter is what makes it a top choice.

#5 Miele New Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

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The Miele C3 Complete Cat and Dog Hair Vacuum is as high-end as they come. With a variable power motor that can control the machine’s speed in six different stages and five-level height adjustments, you can vacuum any kind of floor you like.

It also includes the Parquet Twister that provides a 180° rotation for the agile, yet gentle care of smooth surfaces. It also has an Active Air Clean Filter with active charcoal layers to neutralize and absorb unwanted pet odors.

Equipped with a comfort grip handle and convenient foot switch you can operate this machine with hands or feet. In addition to the three standard accessories ; a dusting brush, upholstery tool and crevice nozzle, it includes a mini turbo brush that easily removes pet hair from furnishings and a 3D bumper.

#6 Hoover Power Drive Pet Vacuum

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The Hoover Power Drive Pet Vacuum has been dubbed the best vacuum for cat hair and litter, because of its advanced action brush roller and strong suction ability. This extra capacity vacuum thoroughly cleans floors, because of its wind tunnel technology.

Whether or not you realize it, this vacuum is the ultimate clean machine for any cat owner. It has a quick release cleaning wand that makes it easy for you to get cat hair off of furniture and stairs. In addition to this, the Hoover Power Drive Pet Vacuum comes with multi purpose pet tools.

Bringing even more utility to a specialty vacuum cleaner, the Hoover Power Drive Pet Vacuum has a brush setting for hard-floors and a multi- tool that can extend to 13 feet of cleaning ability. This vacuum has a long lifespan. After several years, it still works with strong vitality and great suction. Carpets will look new and fresh after a good cleaning with this vacuum, while mold spores, dust mites and allergens are all sucked away.

Features

This vacuum is a great value for the price and reviewers who have owned several other vacuum brands swear by this model. It not only picks up cat hair, but has a sealed allergen system. This vacuum does not require much effort to use and has a swivel steering design to effortlessly maneuver around furniture and into tight spaces with ease.

The Hoover Power Drive Pet Vacuum passes the test of cleaning up pet hair. With this machine, you will find that it is quieter than many other vacuums and accessory attachments make this model highly effective in getting rid of cat hair in all areas of the house. You can also clean tabletops and other hard surfaces with the vacuum’s attachments. This vacuum also comes with a HEPA filter, making sure your air is extra clean.

#7 Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum

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The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum has become a fan favorite for many pet owners who struggled to remove hair and litter with other handheld vacuums. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum for pet hair and litter has surpassed its competition, because of its power.

This particular handheld vacuum lasts for years and continues to perform at full strength. This handheld vacuum takes hair off of of everything, from throw pillows to furniture and toys.

The motorized brush tool is great at working hair out of carpet and tight fibers that may otherwise be impossible to clean. This handheld vacuum is also adept at getting large amounts of hair out of furniture and crevices.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum features a triple level filtration system and a large, easy-to-empty dirt bin to help get rid of pet hair and dirt easily. Pet tools included are: motorized brush tool, upholstery tool, and crevice tool. It works great when cleaning stairs, upholstery, car seats and more. In addition to quickly removing pet hair, this handheld vacuum comes with an easy to hold rubber grip, and a flexible rubber contour nozzle.

Features

This little vacuum is lightweight and has a lot of suction power. This vacuum is only 5 x 8 inches in size and comes with a one year warranty.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum takes only minutes to eliminate large amounts of hair from carpet or a piece of furniture. This vacuum’s suction is strong enough to take pet hair off the edges of stairs without missing a beat. In many cases, you don’t have to pull out a big vacuum to get the job done because this one does it all.

This powerful little vacuum has pleased many pet owners, who admit to throwing out their old handheld vacuums.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld vacuum is a great find for the weary cat owner who needs a quick fix. If you are tired of dragging out your full size vacuum then you may want to check out this powerful and convenient little machine.

#8 Miele Turbo Team Canister Vacuum

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The Miele Turbo Team Canister Vacuum is extremely effective in picking up cat litter, because of its strong suction power. Many pet owners have deemed this vacuum a “must have,” because it also has the ability to pick up pet hair and cat litter and dirt on carpet, rugs and bare floors as well as its compact and light weight design.

With 6 stage variable speeds and a Miele Made Vortex motor, it simply and easily removes pet hair and lint with its turbo brush. Most impressive is Miele vacuums are tested for up to 20 years average usage with each day delivering the same great quality as day one.

Features

This vacuum comes standard with three accessories, conveniently clipped to the hose. The included accessories are a dusting brush, upholstery tool and crevice tool for all those hard to reach places. The best feature of all is the suction power.

It can easily be adjusted to the surface being cleaned with the 6-setting rotary dial located on the vacuum. The stainless steel wand assists the vacuum in reaching an a cleaning radius of 29.5 feet.

It does all this while cleaning the air with its AirClean filter system, which according to Smart Vacuums stops all dust and dirt escaping once its inside the machine.

The Miele C1 includes a genuine Miele dustbag, motor protection filter and AirClean exhaust filter.

What To Consider When Choosing A Vacuum?

Now that you know the basics when it comes to using a vacuum cleaner on cat litter, you will want to consider certain features when shopping for one.

1. Surface

Some vacuum cleaners are better than others depending on the type of surface you will be using it on. Keep this in mind when you are shopping for your next vacuum cleaner. Look for a vacuum that can work well on a carpeted floor as well as hardwood or other hard surfaces. Most pet specific vacuums come with attachments for furniture or hard to reach places.

2. Flexibility

When you have to deal with cat litter and do some serious clean up because there’s a kitty in the house, you want to have greater flexibility and there may not be plugs everywhere. So, when it comes to vacuum cleaners, you might want to pick the cordless type when reaching hard spots in general. Also the way the head swivels or moves in tight corners maybe important.

3. Technology

The suction power is a major consideration when dealing with cat hair and litter. The more powerful the better for picking up hair and litter as well as dirt and dust. Look for vacuums with at least 200 air watts.

4. Budget

This is one of the most common concerns people have when buying any household appliance.This depends on the vacuums features and your needs. A lot of times you get what you pay for and vacuums definitely fall into that category. Look for longevity and a good warranty when making a vacuum purchase.

Conclusion

Pet vacuums come in different styles including handheld, canister, and upright. The type of messes are something to consider before making a pet vacuum purchase. Upright pet vacuums are great for cleaning up larger messes while handheld and canister vacuums are good for small areas or a light litter mess. In addition, the right litter and a tracking mat can also help with litter messes.