Every cat parent understands the cat box struggle. No matter what type of litter or mats we buy, there will always be grains of cat litter gathering just outside of the cat box. We researched and compared several vacuums to find you the best vacuum for cat litter.
Among other aspects, we compared suction, pet-related accessories, nose level and dust capacity. The following list includes the 10 best vacuums for cat litter on the market today.
10 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter:
- Shark NV356E
- Bissell 33A1 Corded
- Hoover BH50010
- Shark NV752 Rotator
- Bissell Cleanview 1831
- Tineco A11 Hero
- Bissell 9595A
- BISSELL PowerEdge 81L2A
- Hoover Linx SH20030
- Dibea D18 Stick Vacuum
1. Shark NV356E 31 Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum
The Navigators is one of the best vacuums for cat litter on tile. This model is great for people with allergies who want to eliminate dust from cat litter.
The filters on this vacuum are said to capture and trap 99.9% of dust and allergens while preventing them from escaping back into the air. The canister on the Navigator is detachable for portable cleaning of upholstery or window treatments.
Pros:
- Detachable canister allows you to clean higher areas as well as furniture.
- Completely sealed system with HEPA filter traps dust and allergens to keep the air in your home pure.
Cons:
- The cord is short at only 20 feet.
- This vacuum is slightly top heavy and can tip over if not positioned properly.
What Customers Are Saying
People who use this vacuum say that it is perfect for homes with multiple pets. They say that the motor is powerful enough to get pet hair, and the filter traps allergens from cat litter dust.
2. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum, Corded, 33A1
The best handheld vacuum for cat litter is the Pet Hair Eraser from Bissell. This small vacuum is packed with features.
This vacuums cyclonic cleaning system works great for picking up even large grains of cat litter. Because it is handheld, it’s great for spot cleaning upholstery or it can be used as a dedicated cat litter vacuum. The dual filtration ensures dust is removed from the air.
Pros:
- Attachment heads work for lifting pet hair from the carpet as well as cleaning up dry spills on hard flooring.
- This vacuum has two filters to help keep dust out of the air.
- Because this handheld vacuum has a cord, it is able to utilize a more powerful motor to give you the best suction possible.
Cons:
- Although this device is handheld, it still has to be plugged into an outlet and may be more difficult to use in your car.
- This is not a full vacuum and will only work for spot cleaning cat litter.
What Customers Are Saying
Those who have this vacuum say that it works best for cleaning up cat litter as well as dry kibble.
3. Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Lightweight, BH50010
Hoover is the industry standard for vacuum cleaners, and this stick vacuum does not disappoint. If your home is primarily carpeted, or even if your cat tracks litter onto a carpeted area, the best vacuum for cat litter on carpeting is the Hoover Linx.
This thin, sleek stick vacuum runs on a lithium-ion battery, so you can carry this vacuum from room to room without unplugging it.
Pros:
- Works on low-pile carpets
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- No roller brush underneath
- Dual spinning brush
- Picks up pet hair
- Low profile
- Has remote control
Cons:
- No dock; plug in to charge
- Gets stuck easily
4. Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter
The Rotator is one of the best vacuums for cat litter on hardwood floors.
The powered Lift-Away technology of this vacuum easily turns it into a mini, portable canister vacuum. In this mode, you can carry the vacuum around by hand with an attached hose to vacuum curtains, couches, car seats and more.
Return the extender to transform this back into an everyday upright vacuum for carpeting and hard flooring.
Pros:
- Detachable canister allows for portable cleaning.
- The LED lights on the vacuum head allow you to see exactly where you need to vacuum.
Cons:
- This is a more expensive model at just under $300.
- It is a little heavy in handheld mode at just under 15 pounds.
What Customers Are Saying
People who use this vacuum say that the suction power is great and the motorized brush tool is unmatched for cleaning surfaces.
5. Bissell Cleanview Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner, Orange, 1831
The CleanView by Bissell is a great cat litter vacuum. The style, color and functionality of this model make it a favorite among pet owners. The multi-cyclonic bagless system has CleanView technology so you can see when it is time to empty the canister.
Pros:
- The pre-motor filter can easily be cleaned in your kitchen sink.
- Included TurboBrush tool allows you to clean upholstery and stairs with ease.
Cons:
- The power cord is on the short side at only 25 feet long.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love this vacuum for its affordable price and TurboBrush feature, which allows you to clean upholstery as well as stairs.
6. Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner
If you are looking for the best stick vacuum for cat litter, consider the Tineco A11 Hero. This stick vacuum can easily be transformed into a handheld version with many attachments for detailed cleaning.
The A11 Hero runs on a lithium-ion battery with up to 40 minutes of run time, so you can clean an entire floor on one charge.
Pros:
- Lithium-ion battery with 40 minutes of run time allows you to thoroughly vacuum an entire floor on one charge.
- Wall-mounted storage and charging allow for convenient organization.
Cons:
- This device is pricey at just over $250.
- Because this device is battery operated, the motor is not as powerful as a corded vacuum would be.
What Customers Are Saying
Those who use this vacuum say that the handheld aspect works great for cleaning up litter around the box and that the attachments are great for helping with pet hair.
7. Bissell 9595A CleanView Bagless Vacuum with OnePass
Bissell has made a name for itself as a pet friendly company. This bagless vacuum is one of the best vacuum cleaners for cat litter at an affordable price.
This vacuum comes with CleanView technology, which allows you to see when the canister of the vacuum needs to be emptied. There is also a pre- and post-motor filtration system to help keep allergens out of the air.
Pros:
- The pre-motor filter can easily be cleaned in your kitchen sink.
- Bissell donates $10 for every pet product purchased to the Bissell Pet Foundation.
- This vacuum is a great deal for under $100.
- Included TurboBrush tool allows you to clean upholstery and stairs with ease.
Cons:
- The power cord is on the short side at only 25 feet long.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love this vacuum for its affordable price and TurboBrush feature, which allows you to clean upholstery as well as stairs.
8. BISSELL PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor Bagless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, 81L2A
Another good vacuum for cat litter is the PowerEdge by Bissell. The unique design of this hard floor cleaner ensures that you vacuum up all cat litter.
The vacuum head of this device is V-shaped to direct the cat litter directly to the center of the brush head where the powerful motor sucks it away.
Pros:
- The V-shaped design of the head allows you to easily clean around corners and chair legs.
- Rubber squeegees ensure that every last speck is vacuumed up.
- At just under 8 pounds, the lightweight design of this vacuum makes it easy to maneuver.
Cons:
- The cord on this device is short at only 20 feet and may need to be moved from outlet to outlet while in use.
What Customers Are Saying
People say that this is the best vacuum for picking up cat litter due to the squeegee on the bottom of the brush head that prevents any dust from being left behind.
9. Hoover Linx Bagless Corded Cyclonic Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner, SH20030
This version of the Hoover Linx is one of the best vacuum cleaners for pets. Like its cordless counterpart, the extreme recline handle of this model allows you to get under hard to reach areas and the clear canister lets you know when to empty your vacuum.
Pros:
- The 20 foot cord of this model allows you to vacuum as long as you’d like without having to recharge.
Cons:
- The cord on this device is only 20 feet long.
What Customers Are Saying
People like the power of this corded version of the Linx because it allows for longer vacuuming time and more powerful suction.
10. Dibea D18 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
If you are looking for the best cordless vacuum for pet hair, Dibea makes a stick vacuum with a multitude of accessories and options.
This handheld and battery operated vacuum is rechargeable and comes with a slim stick attachment for vacuuming hard flooring. A wall mount and screws are included so you can easily store your vacuum when not in use.
Pros:
- The filter is hand washable so you can reuse it time and again.
- Because this vacuum is battery operated it can go anywhere that your pets can go to easily clean up pet hair.
- This is an affordable vacuum for under $100.
Cons:
- Because this vacuum is battery operated, the motor is not as powerful as a wall-plug model.
What Customers Are Saying
Those who use this vacuum say that the handheld aspect works great for cleaning up litter around the box and that the attachments are great for helping with pet hair.
Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Vacuum for Cat Litter
When looking for the best litter vacuum, there are several things you want to consider before you buy. This list includes a number of things to take into consideration:
Corded vs Battery Operated:
There is a mix of both corded and cordless vacuums on this list. While corded vacuums generally offer better suction in the form of a more powerful motor, battery-operated devices are more portable. They can be used in many environments that a corded device cannot reach.
Some models, like the Shark Navigator, offer a corded vacuum with a removable canister for a portable option.
Dust Capacity
If you’re only planning to spot-clean around your litter box, more dust capacity may not be as important to you as if you plan to vacuum your entire home. While most of the vacuums on this list are full-sized, there are handheld versions that are perfect for litter box cleaning.
Suction:
Suction power depends greatly on the motor of the vacuum, which itself depends on whether the vacuum is battery-operated or corded. Generally, corded vacuums have better suction because they can have more powerful motors.
Included Attachments:
Because we are focused on cleaning cat litter, attachments are key. Vacuums with crevice tools are extremely helpful, as are vacuums which include pet hair brush heads as well.
Because vacuuming cat litter can be a detailed task, attachments are the key to getting in corners and crevices that a full vacuum head will not reach.
Warranty:
Most of the vacuums on this list come with a warranty, though some of the warranties may be limited. Be sure to check the warranty information of each vacuum before you make your decision.
Deciding which factors are most important to you will help narrow down your search.
Vacuum for Cat Litter FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions regarding vacuums for cat litter:
Cat litter is safe to vacuum, though it can cause extra wear on any normal vacuum. Pet friendly and cat litter specific vacuums are best for vacuuming up cat littler on both tile and carpeting.
Properly cleaning up cat litter can be a multiple-step process depending on the type of litter you use. While most pet-friendly vacuums can pick up large debris, you want to sweep up larger debris to put less wear on your vacuum.
After this, it is best to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to be sure all small dust particles are vacuumed up as well.
Larger clay cat litter can damage vacuums over time. Certain vacuums are built tough to vacuum up cat litter, but its best to improve the life of your vacuum by doing a quick sweep around the litter box before vacuuming.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is built strong to clean pet hair with its large canister capacity. Because this handheld vacuum is corded, the motor is more powerful, which makes it great for cleaning large debris like clay cat litter.
Preserving the life of your vacuuming can ensure that it works properly for years. While most of these vacuums come with warranties, it never hurts to properly care for your vacuum to keep it in top shape.
Making the Decision
Shopping around for the best vacuum for cat litter doesn’t have to be hard. This list is designed to give you an idea of the variety of options available. We also offer helpful factors to consider before making your purchase. If you prioritize which factors are most important to you, finding a new vacuum can be as easy as a few clicks of your mouse.
While every vacuum on this list works great for cat litter, we have our favorites. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is our top pick because of its suction power, dust capacity, and ability to vacuum in small areas.
Another favorite is the Shark Rotator Powered TruePet Upright Vacuum which is a more expensive model but works as a full upright vacuum and a handheld model.
Whatever you decide, any vacuum on this list will help you tackle litter on your hard flooring and carpeting.
