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The 5 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter

Dealing with cat litter is something that every cat owner has to do, but with a vacuum, life gets a little easier.

It seems as if no matter what type of litter your cat likes it’s going to get tracked outside the box, thrown over the side, or generally scattered in the area around the litter box.

Luckily, there are vacuums for cat litter designed to suck up even the peskiest of cat litters!

If you have ever tried those litters which are made of little silicon or clay beads you know all too well the agony of stepping on those little beads with bare feet because your cat has tracked them around the house.

Invest in a vacuum for cat litter and spare your feet and floors!


🐾 In this article:

  • Why Get a Vacuum for Cat Litter?
  • The 5 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter (2019)
  • Our Top Pick Vacuum for Cat Litter 

Why Get a Great Vacuum for Cat Litter

Having a great vacuum that can handle cat litter effectively is a must for cat owners. But some vacuums just don’t handle cat litter as well as others. 

It can be very difficult to find a vacuum that can easily sweep up all those little litter particles and protect your feet and your cat’s feet. Most cat owners have tried many different types of litter in an effort to keep the litter area cleaner.

But when was the last time you tried changing your vacuum instead of changing your litter?

Best Vacuums for Cat Litter – Overview

ProductPriceQuality
dysonDyson$$$$5 stars rating
hooverHoover$$rating 45
sharkShark Rotator$$$5 stars rating
bishBissel$ratin 4
Bissel Cleanview$+rating 45

The 5 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter [Reviews]

There are many different pet-friendly vacuums on the market now that can handle cat litter, cat food pieces, and anything else your cat can throw at them. And while some are pretty expensive some of them are very affordable if you’re on a budget.

When you have a cat, it’s best to invest in the highest quality vacuum (that you can afford) as it will last way longer. But if you are limited by your budget, don’t worry, there are options for you too!

Check out these top 5 pet vacuums for cat litter that are designed to keep the litter area, and the rest of your floors, clean and sanitary for you and your cats.

1. The Dyson Ball Animal Pet Vacuum 

dyson

Discover it on Amazon

If you have the money to invest in a high-end vacuum, the Dyson Animal is a fantastic choice.

It’s very lightweight (5 pounds) so even if you don’t have a lot of strength you can maneuver it easily. It’s bagless so it’s very easy to empty. And the unique pivoting Dyson ball makes it very easy to get this vacuum into tight spaces like around the litter box!


Price range: $330-450

Why we like it: Lightweight, easy to use, bagless, can pick up almost anything, versatile, pivot ball, sucks up large pieces, rechargeable.

What we don’t like: The price is a little high, especially if you just end up using the vacuum for cat litter. It’s best to invest in something you will use all-around.


The Dyson vacuum can pick up almost anything so you never have to worry about it picking up all the litter pieces.

Even litter that comes in large pieces like the litter made from a recycled newspaper isn’t a problem for this vacuum. And it will definitely pick up those maddening little pearls of litter that roll everywhere.

The only downside about the Dyson vacuum is the price. But if you can afford it, the Dyson is a high-quality pet vacuum that will last for a long time!!

2. The Hoover Wind Tunnel Pet Rewind Vacuum

hoover

Read Reviews on Amazon

If you are looking for something more affordable but still good quality this Hoover Wind Tunnel Pet Rewind vacuum for cat litter is a good choice!

The cord is very long and it has an automatic rewind so you don’t have to waste time to wind the cord every time you need to get the vacuum out. Just tap a button and the cord retracts!

A positive feature about the Hoover Wind vacuum for cat litter is that it comes with a pet hair attachment. If you can combine a vacuum for cat litter and cat hair, then you’ve got a winner!


Price range: $130-150

Why we like it: Affordable, automatic winding cord, bagless, pet hair attachment included, good for tight spaces.

What we don’t like: Customers report that the hose tends to clog.


Wind Tunnel is a bagless upright vacuum that only weighs about 18 pounds. So it’s easy to move and easy to get up and down stairs if your litter boxes are upstairs or down in the basement, however the Shark Rotator (below) is lighter, at just over 15 pounds.

Like the Dyson Animal, this vacuum is easy to get into tight spaces. It has a specially designed edged head that will grab litter and other debris even in sharp corners.

Bottom line: At over $100, the Hoover Wind vacuum for cat litter is a smart choice if you want quality that isn’t going to blow your budget.

3. The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away True Pet Vaccum 

shark ninja

Check Price on Amazon

The Shark Rotator is at the higher end of the price spectrum but remains more affordable than the Dyson Cordless Animal. Nonetheless, it’s well worth the money if you can afford it.

Our friend Sonya has used this vacuum for years and it’s never let her down. And because she has 7 cats and 9 litter boxes it gets a daily workout!

One of the great features that this vacuum has is an allergy filter and a HEPA filter. So when you’re vacuuming up litter it also vacuums up litter dust instead of releasing that dust into the air. It works well on cat hair too!


Price range: $250-300

Why we like it: Allergy + HEPA filter, long-lasting, vacuums up litter dust, well-rated, lightweight (15.4 pounds), detachable canister!

What we don’t like: The hose is a little short, only reaching about 6 feet, but that’s not too much of a problem. We love this vacuum for cat litter!


Another great feature of the Shark Rotator vacuum is that the canister separates from the rest of the vacuum to make it easier to get into small spaces. Meaning, if you have a litter box in a closet or in a small area, the Shark Rotator can get in there and do its job. 

Even though it’s a little pricier than some of the other vacuums, it really pays for itself. 

The Shark Rotator makes it easy to keep the litter box area and the rest of the house dust, litter and cat hair free. An all-around vacuum, so to speak!

4. The Bissel PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Vacuum 

Best Vacuum Cleaner for Cat Owners | Fluffy Kitty

Check it on Amazon

For those who are looking for an affordable vacuum that does a great job on hard floors, this is a smart choice. It’s cheap enough that you could buy one just to keep in the litter box area.

Many people put litter boxes in the laundry area, in the basement, or in other hard floor areas. That means that litter can be especially hard to vacuum up. But this Bissell vacuum has a V-shaped cleaning head to make it easy to get into tight spaces and around corners.


Price range: $70-150

Why we like it: Budget-friendly, unique V-shape, good for hard floors, bagless.

What we don’t like: Not fantastic for pet hair, small-sized container, and not as long-lasting.


It’s bagless and has an easy to empty cup that catches debris. The cup is rather small so this is not a vacuum to use throughout the house. But it’s a great choice vacuum for the cat litter area.

5. The Bissel Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Vacuum 

Best Vacuums for Cat Litter [ Fluffy Kitty Blog ]

Check Price

If the above Bissel doesn’t match your needs, then this Bissel will! The Bissel Cleanview Swivel for Pets is a budget-friendly, all-around vacuum for cleaning up cat litter, pet hair, and more.

It features scatter-free technology, meaning cat litter or food won’t scatter about as you try to suck it up on hard floors. This vacuum seamlessly picks up cat litter as much as it does cat hair with a special cat hair removal tool. Its triple-action brush roll will suck up cat hairballs in every nook and cranny – even around edges and corners.

When you’re done, just simply remove and empty the dirt bin and replace. Easy-peasy!


Price range: $100-175

Why we like it: High-quality at a low-price, special scatter-free technology, cleans edges and corners, easy to empty.

What we don’t like: There’s not much we don’t like! This is a great vacuum for cat litter and all pet needs, especially for the price.


Fluffy Kitty’s Choice: The Shark Rotator Vacuum for Cat Litter

The Shark Rotator vacuum for cat litter is our top choice because of its all-around design!

It traps 99.9% of litter dust and allergens, making your home litter-dust-free. It also has a TruePet motorized brush and pet-multi tool feature, making this vacuum the ultimate pet hair cleaner.

Check Reviews Meow

Beyond it being one of the best vacuums for cat litter and cat hair, the Shark Rotator is designed to suck up stuck-on debris from both hard floors and carpet.

Unlike some vacuums which have 1-2 purposes, the Shark Rotator vacuum is the ideal cleaning companion for all your house needs, from vacuuming up cat litter and cat hair to dirt from the kid’s shoes.

Lastly, you get one great vacuum for a price that is reasonable with high value for money (based on customer reviews).

Ultimately you may have to read several reviews on the vacuums to see what works best on the type of litter that your cat prefers and on the type of floors that you have.

But keep in mind that a bargain basement vacuum isn’t going to do a great job on cat litter and probably won’t last very long.

A great vacuum is essential for cat owners. So invest in the best quality vacuum that you can afford. You won’t regret it!

Amy

Tuesday 7th of April 2020

I bought the Hoover 70210 and it was terrible. not sure why you recommend it. I used it one time, it barely picked up litter. Couldn't even pick up small confetti. I returned it immediately.

The Fluffy Kitty

Tuesday 16th of June 2020

Thanks for your input, Amy!! I'm going to review it (it's been a while since we've last updated) and I'll make sure to rewrite it based on recent customer reviews. Thank you!!

DM

Tuesday 13th of March 2018

Have you ever used a Litter Robot?

We are retired with the kids out of the house (except for the “rubber band man” who keeps bouncing back) and we rescue.

(By rescue, I mean once we rescue, they stay with us until they cross over. Our average age right now is 10. All healthy with one FIV+ baby we rescued right after Harvey.)

Anyway, having a dozen litter boxes was a pain, so we invested in six Open Air III Litter Robots. Expensive, but worth every penny. And the house doesn’t stink anymore.

Just wondering. Hadn’t seen a review for it yet.

Still dealing with Litter tracking on our HQVCL flooring, but on a much smaller scale.

Investigating a vacuum robot. If you have a suggestion for that, I’m interested.

Thanks!

Brittany, Paul, & Yoda =^^=

Friday 23rd of March 2018

Wow! Hadn't considered a litter bot, but sounds super neat! We will have to look into it. Thanks for your comment!