Categories
vacuums

10 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Cat Litter

LAST UPDATED: 20 Nov 2020


10 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Cat Litter – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Top Choice

vacuum for cat litter

Shark Rotator NV501


CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Top Value

Top of Line

paul hardwick

This product guide is written by Paul Hardwick

Anyone that has a cat knows how easily cat litter can spread throughout your house. Even with the best type of litter box, it can be easy for cat litter to scatter and end up outside of the litter box. Having the best vacuum for cat owners can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your home clean. You want to look for a vacuum that was designed to be used in a home with pets and that is especially effective at picking up cat litter. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best vacuum for cat litter.

About The Author

paul hardwick

Welcome to Vacuum Picker!

My name is Paul Hardwick. I am passionate about all things vacuum. From very early on I was fascinated with them and after earning an engineering degree in electro-mechanical systems, I have been able to appreciate them even more. Here I will share with you my insights on the options available in the market & help you pick the best for all your vacuum needs! Read more.

10 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter

1

Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick SV1106

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Featuring a powerful brush roll, the Shark Rotator TruePet Upright lets you thoroughly clean your entire house. Easily access the vacuum’s controls with your fingertips, this vacuum allows you to pick up dirt and debris that has been embedded deep down into the carpet. Learning how to use the Swivel Steering feature along with the LED light allows you to utilize the vacuum and find all the debris and dirt you can in your home.

Show More

The controls on the handle are adjustable and easy to use. The Shark Rotator TruePet Upright comes with several attachments that make cleaning around the house easier and the dirt container has a nice design that is easy to empty. As far as a vacuum for cat litter, the TruePet has a great motor and enough features to make it a great value.

Pros

  • It's very easy to use with its push-button design
  • This vacuum has a nicely designed container
  • It comes with several attachments that add to its value

Cons

  • You can easily hit the open button for the dirty cup and dump litter onto the floor

2

ILIFE V3s Pro-Robotic Vacuum

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Using pet hair technology, the ILIFE V3s Pro-Robotic Vacuum can pick up any type of dirt and debris including cat litter. It also features auto charge and a low-profile design that makes it easy to reach under couches and beds and anywhere a cat may hide. This super lightweight vacuum only weighs 4 ½ pounds making it easy to carry anywhere you need to.

Show More

Featuring a smart sensor, the ILIFE V3s are able to tell you when something needs to be changed on the machine. It also comes with an anti-bump feature and a programmable schedule. Perfect for picking up litter, pet hair and general allergens, this vacuum will self-charge, so you never have to worry about a dead battery.

 

Pros

  • You can program a vacuum schedule with it
  • It can tell you when you need to change something on it
  • It can easily get under furniture to clean

Cons

  • It has a thin power cord
  • The battery doesn’t last long.

3

Shark Rotator Upright Corded Bagless NV501

Top Choice

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

This professional-level cat litter vacuum tackles litter and pet hair using its brush roll. The Shark Rotator Lift-Away easily picks up both litter and pet dander. Using an extra-large and professional level dust cup, you can easily clean for a longer period of time without having to stop and empty out the cup. It also comes with an easy to follow and understand user’s manual in case of any issues.

Show More

Featuring an LED light, the Shark Rotator Lift-Away helps you to quickly find dust, debris, dander, and litter, even if it’s hidden under furniture. The 2-in-1 Lift-away feature gives this vacuum an advantage by allowing you to clean up the dirt on any surface.



Pros

  • The dust cup is extra-large
  • It has an LED light to help you find dirt and debris
  • The brush has a great design for picking up debris and hair as well as dander

Cons

  • The customer service isn’t very good
  • You have to cover shipping if you need a replacement for something that is the company’s fault

4

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Blue

Top of Line

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Ideal for cleaning any area of your home, the Dyson V11 is a great choice for sucking up cat litter. This is Dyson's most intelligent, powerful cordless vacuum. Twice the suction of any cordless vacuum.

Show More

This vacuum intelligently optimizes suction and run time across all kinds of floors. It has the the right balance of power, run time and noise. You can run it up to 60 minutes without break. It works best for larger homes with pets. Actual run time can vary depending upon power used, floor type and attachments used.


You can easily store this bagless vacuum either vertically or horizontally. Converts to a handheld for cleaning cars, stairs and upholstery. After registering your free 2 year warranty, your Dyson machine will be covered for parts and labor. 

Pros

  • This is a lightweight vacuum with very low noise
  • High torque cleaner head for powerful cleaning 
  • Intelligently optimizes suction and run time

Cons

  • High price
  • Drop in docking can be tricky to get used to

5

MOOSOO Vacuum Cleane D600

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The MooSoo D600 Vacuum Cleaner is perfect for marble, tile, hardwood floors. It is excellent for picking up all debris, such as cat litter, dog food crumbs and pet hair. Very good seal design and high quality HEPA filter provides excellent experience.

Show More

Easy to clean the dirt under the furniture and beds. Brush head is easy to control, and free to control the direction. It weighs only 4.4 pounds and can be operated with one hand alone.


It has a long cord ( 23 feet) and can easily reach high reach items like ceilings and vents.

Pros

  • Rotatable Brush Head
  • This is a super lightweight vacuum
  • Quality HEPA filter

Cons

  • It’s doesn’t do well for laminate floor cleaning
  • It doesn’t clean dirty spots well

6

Dirt Devil Razor Pet

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Featuring automatic height adjustment, the Dirt Devil Razor Pet is a corded upright vacuum that only weighs 12.6 pounds. It comes equipped with a 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush along with the TURBOCLAW pet turbo tool. Offering swerve and swivel capabilities, this vacuum is simple to maneuver in tight corners, around furniture, and up close to walls.  

Show More

Including an odor trapping filter, the Dirt Devil Razor Pet allows you to clean carpets with low or high pile as well as hardwoods and tile. With the removable extension wand, you can reach areas up to ten feet, which makes it easier to get to those high places in your house. This vacuum is perfect for a pet owner since it is equipped with the TURBOCLAW pet turbo tool as well as a dirt cup with an anti-hair wrap design.


Versatile enough for a range of cleaning needs, the Dirt Devil Razor Pet includes an Endura filter that is easy to reach and can be rinsed clean. Its odor trapping design is perfect for homes with pets and to clean up litter that has been scattered. This lightweight vacuum is super quiet and comes with a brush roll that you can turn off.

 

Pros

  • It comes with a two-year warranty
  • This is a pretty quiet vacuum that works well on cat litter
  • You can turn off the brush roll if you want

Cons

  • It’s a little heavy for some users

7

Eureka NEU188A

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Easy to use, the Eureka NEU188A comes with five height settings and a transparent brush roll cover. This vacuum is a great choice for anyone that has pets and includes a Pet Turbo brush. It’s also perfect for homes that have more than one type of flooring since it works on rugs, carpets, hardwoods, and tile.

Show More

The Eureka NEU188A is a good choice if you need to suck up cat litter on your carpet. Equipped with LED lights, it is very useful when you vacuum under furniture or in dark areas like closets. Only weighing 12 pounds, this lightweight vacuum is an easy to maneuver upright unit that can be easier for older individuals or anyone with mobility issues to use.  


Along with a pet turbo brush, the Eureka NEU188A vac also includes a 2-in-1 upholstery tool that has a telescoping design that has the flexibility you need for better reach into hard spots. It also comes with a handle that has a quick-release design that makes it easier to clean up pet hair and hard to clean substances. The transparent brush cover allows you to easily see what could be wrapped around the brush roll with the dust cup is easy to empty and come with a simple wash filter.


This corded vacuum comes with a 25-foot cord, which makes it easy to be connected to an outlet at all times. And, with the quick release handle, the Eureka NEU188A easily lets you switch from floor to high cleaning by simply attaching the right tool.


Pros

  • There are several height settings to choose from
  • It was designed to be used in a house with pets
  • It has a nice long cord

Cons

  • It’s pretty loud
  • It will scatter litter on a tile floor

8

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

This handheld vacuum is a great choice for pet owners on a budget. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser features a rubber nozzle that is great at attracting pet hair while the suction nozzle easily sucks up litter. With this lost cost vacuum, you get several different capabilities with a vacuum that was specifically designed to pick up pet hair from car interiors and upholstery.

Show More

The suction nozzle is attachable and works well on hard surfaces. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is lightweight only weighing 4.2 pounds and comes with a 16-foot cord, so you don’t have to worry about batteries dying and having to recharge the vacuum for hours. The easy to clean canister does not come with a bag, but has a reusable and washable filter that extends the life of the filter and saves you money on replacement filters.


Pros

  • The rubber nozzle is great at attracting hair
  • The suction nozzle works well on cat litter
  • The handle is convenient and compact

Cons

  • It tends to blow light dirt away
  • It only has a 16-foot cord  

9

Roborock E35

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

With a 2 ½ hour run time, the Roborock E35 is compatible with your smartphone and features a spot clean mode. Perfect for anyone that doesn’t like to vacuum, this unit has a set and forget design that makes it easy to use. Featuring 13 types of sensors, it can easily maneuver around your home and stop before falling down the stairs or running into pets and furniture.  

Show More

Equipped with a large battery, the Roborock E35 will clean continuously for 2 ½ hours before docking itself automatically and recharging. Plus, you can also use it as a mop. It will actually mop and vacuum at the same time making sure to suck up the water as it goes.


The included app allows the vacuum to work through your in-home wi-fi. The Roborock E35 features route planning allowing it to clean up 30 perfect faster than a typical robot vacuum, plus it has powerful suction that is ideal for picking up pet hair and cat litter. With its spot cleaning abilities, you can easily clean up accidents and spills. And, the washable filter will extend its lifespan, so you won’t have to spend tons of money on filter replacements.

 

Pros

  • It has an app to control several cleaning options
  • You can use it as a mop
  • It has a design that you just set and forget

Cons

  • It’s pretty loud
  • You need wi-fi to use the app

10

BLACK & DECKER HHVI315JO42

Top Value

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

This cordless, handheld vacuum only weighs 2.11 pounds. The Black & Decker HHVI315JO42 is equipped with a crevice tool and brush along with a washable filter and bowl. Not only is this an easy to use handheld vacuum, but it comes with a lot of features.

Show More

Created specifically for cleaning up everyday spills and messes, the Black & Decker HHVI315JO42 is also a good choice for cleaning up cat litter. With a bowl capacity of 31.8 ounces, you won’t have to empty it out as frequently giving it a longer run time. Plus, you can wash the filter and bowl, which lets you keep it clean and sanitary in between uses.


With a translucent dirt bowl, the Black & Decker HHVI315JO42 you can easily see when the bowl is full of debris and dirt and needs to be emptied. This unit is also easy to use in tight corners or hard to reach areas thanks to its crevice tool, which makes it handy for cleaning furniture.  The Black & Decker is also easy to store with its included wall mount where you can plug it in to recharge its lithium battery. Since it doesn’t have a cord, you can take this unit anywhere in the house or use it to vacuum out your car.  

Pros

  • It is lightweight and easy to use
  • This is a handy vacuum that is simple to clean
  • It has a large bowl capacity

Cons

  • It has a short battery run time
  • It takes a long time to charge the battery

Vacuums for Cat Litter - Buying Guide


Considerations When Choosing a Vacuum for Kitty Litter

Will Cat Litter Damage a Vacuum?

It may seem like cat litter isn’t going to harm your vacuum cleaner, but it can do actual damage to a vacuum. In reality, a vacuum cleaner is meant to pick up dust and dirt, not cat litter. Even though it can pick up cat litter does not mean that’s what it should always be used for. Cat litter can clog the inside of a vacuum easily and reduce the ability of the machine to be effective.

Why Cat Litter Can Be Dangerous to a Vacuum

It’s important to choose a vacuum that was designed for use with both pet hair and cat litter, or you will just end up harming the vacuum that you use. When cat little comes in contact with water, it can destroy the vacuum by molding together and become solid like cement. Dyson makes vacuums with hepa filters but given the high price point, it might be risky to use for litter picking purposes.

Fortunately, manufacturers have started to address the issue of cat litter and vacuums and are designing machines that won’t become damaged by litter and dampness.  

Types of Cat Litter

Clay-based litter – This type of litter is able to absorb its own weight in urine. That means is super effective. But, once it is full of urine, it is not able to absorb any more and a very distinctive odor is produced. At that point, you will need to add baking soda or charcoal to get rid of the odor.  

Biodegradable litter – Since this an environmentally-friendly option, you won’t have to worry about your cat eating it. Biodegradable litter is made from products that are recycled or plants like corn and wheat, so it’s totally safe for a cat to ingest.

Silica-based litter – Made out of a crystallized form of silica gel, silica-based litter is very effective at absorbing cat urine and reducing the smell at the same time. Typically, this type of litter is chosen by pet owners that prefer less dust.

All three of these cat litters use different properties, but they also have one thing in common. All types of litter will have a hard substance in it that will absorb urine, which makes them potentially harmful to a vacuum cleaner. After they have been sucked up, the litter granules will travel through the vacuum at a high speed and hit components inside the machine as they move through. Any fragile parts could be damaged from this type of impact making your vacuum cleaner start to fail.

Choosing the Best Cat Litter Vacuum


Separating Dirt and Air

When considering a vacuum to suck up cat litter, make sure you look for a motor with a bypass flow design. This design will separate the dirt and air while preventing dust from getting into the filter. A vacuum that has a cyclonic cleaning system will have this motor type and can produce a very powerful flow of air that will force the dust particles to the side of the cylindrical container. This design also helps to ensure that the vacuum maintains its powerful suction.

Suction

Another very important consideration of a vacuum cleaner for cat litter is its suction. When you clean up litter, you need all the power from the vacuum that you can get. Difficult to clean, cat litter will often stick to the floor or hide down inside a carpet requiring some strong suction in order to get it out. Vacuums with durable bristles make it much easier to clean up. It’s also important that you get a vacuum that will be able to maintain this power over a long period of time.

Durability

Remember that an expensive model can be worth the investment if it’s the right type of vacuum. It is always better to buy one that is a little more expensive now than ending up replacing a cheaper version after only a few uses. This is particularly true when you are cleaning up cat litter. Since these hard granules are able to cause damage quickly, it’s important to find a vacuum that has internal components that can take a bit of a beating.

Bagged versus Bagless

Another important question is, which is best, bagless or bagged? A bagged vacuum has the advantage of cleanliness since it comes with a replaceable filter and bag that needs to be changed when it's full. If you don’t, the vacuum just doesn’t work very well. However, this machine will definitely stay clean since all the dirt and dust that is collected stays inside a bag that will get thrown away. Just keep in mind that there is an added expense of the replacement bags with a bagged vacuum that can get pricey over time.

With a bagless model, all the dirt and dust is collected in a dust container, so you don’t have to buy pricey replacement bags. But, you will have to deal with cleaning the container and any dust clouds that can occur when you empty it. Plus, it can tend to smell if you leave a soiled litter inside the container waiting to be thrown out. That’s why it's important to empty after each use and also wash it to reduce the change of odors to linger.

Robotic options

Robotic vacuums as useful as they are generally, but for cleaning cat litter they might not be the best option. They work very well in open spaces but for enclosed areas like a litter box, they tend to get stuck and are not effective in cleaning.

Type of Flooring Type

It’s also important to consider the type of floor your cat litter box is sitting on and what you have throughout the house. With different types of flooring, you will have different attachment and suction requirements. You will want a vacuum that can clean all the floors in your home, so you can avoid needing more than one vacuum cleaner to keep your house clean.

To get litter out from in a carpet, you will need strong brushes and suction. With a motorized brush, it will be easier to find those particles deep in a rug since they are made to basically beat out the dirt that is stuck in a thick rug. Tile and hardwood floors don’t need to be agitated, but they will still need a vacuum with strong suction. Soft roller brushes and nozzles that act like rubber are also pretty effective when you need to pick up cat litter from an uncarpeted floor. Also as a pet owner, vacuuming the cat hair is another issue we have to deal with regularly. So while we get the best vacuum for litter, it is important that it works with removing shedding hair.

Conclusion

Cleaning up cat litter can be a challenge. If you don’t have the right type of vacuum, you can quickly end up damaging it. Make sure you find a vacuum that is designed to handle pet hair and cat litter and is durable enough to handle the damage that cat litter can cause. 

With the above guidance and recommendations we hope you will find the best vacuum for cat litter that is right for you.

Get The Best!

VACUUM cleaner recommedations


Straight to your inbox