The Best Vacuums for Cat Litter, According to Our In-Depth Testing

Upright

Upright vacuum cleaners tend to be the most powerful. So they’re ideal if you have a lot of scattered litter to clean up – great if you have several cats or one very messy one!

And if your litter box is in an open area, an upright vacuum is a good fit. Plus, for those who have carpet as well as hard floors, uprights are also powerful enough for vacuuming cat litter from this surface type.

Also, is your cat long-haired? Some upright models offer versatility in being suited to pick up longer cat hair.

So one of these models would be ideal for both messes from your litter boxes and dander from your cats.

Stick

Stick vacuum cleaners are good for smaller homes. They’re more compact in size and lighter so you can store them more easily.

Therefore, this type is best suited for those where space is a factor, and where you’ve not got too much cat litter to clear up. But they don’t usually have as great suction power as an upright vacuum does.

Stick vacuums offer a 2-in-1 design saving you space. But they can also be a bit top-heavy to move around.

Shop Vac

Shop vacs are a type of large, heavy-duty canister vacuums. They offer you great flexibility as you can use them for both wet and dry jobs.

The motor sits on top of a large dirt canister which can take a lot of dirt and debris before you’ll have to empty it. Plus, you’ll get a long, flexible hose with different attachments that will help you in different cleaning tasks.

You’ll be able to clean up lots of cat litter quickly. But, they don’t have a proper filter so shop vacuums aren’t ideal if you’re an allergy sufferer.

And as they’re big and heavy, you’ll find them harder to maneuver around your home.

Handheld

Handheld vacuums are great if you only have one, relatively tidy cat. They’re great for quick clean-ups of small areas, such as the space immediately around your litter box.

They’re compact in size and so easy to store and to get out whenever needed. For those of you who keep your litter boxes in a tight corner or small area, a handheld vacuum cleaner is a great choice.

But, they usually don’t have as powerful suction as other models. And you also need to consider battery life – this can run out quickly which is why they’re not ideal for larger homes.

Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum is a good fit if you have light litter tracking. You might use a handheld or regular vacuum for on-the-spot cleanups, but a robot can be set to vacuum litter on a regular basis.

This type is also good for that other common mess cat owners have to deal with – hair! Pet hair can seem to gather even with regular vacuuming.

So a robot vacuum will also pick up any accumulations of cat hair from your floors. And this is especially true for carpeted areas.

The best vacuum for cat litter will have powerful suction so that removing the mess from these spaces is easy. And it should be strong enough to suck up pet hair, even when it gets embedded in carpet fibers.

So it’s really important to check the suction power when buying a vacuum cleaner for cat litter. Check that it has advanced features such as a bypass flow motor or the highest suction levels.

This can be measured in different ways. Unfortunately, there’s no industry-agreed standard.

For example, some cat litter vacuums will demonstrate that they have good suction power with a high number of Pa or Pascals. This is a unit of pressure.

But other models will focus on the RPM of the motor, or how high the air wattage is. So with different units being used, it’s difficult to compare one model with another.

Therefore, look at customer reviews and product information to help you make an informed decision.

You should look for a filter that can pick up fur balls and tiny bits of pet debris and trap them. Otherwise, as you vacuum, these tiny fibers can just end up being circulated in your home’s air.

The best vacuum for cat litter and pet hair will have a three stage filtration system or a HEPA filter. These can trap and filter 99.97% of particles that are even as small as 0.3 microns ⁽¹⁾.

But, make sure that the filter is a true or absolute HEPA. HEPA-type or media filters claim to do the same job as proper HEPA ones but they don’t have to meet the same standards.

You can check that the filter is a true HEPA by looking for a serial number ⁽²⁾. They may be more expensive than HEPA-type filters, but they’re worth it in terms of the number and size of particles they’ll capture.

Also, see if the HEPA filter is washable. This will cut down on costs as you won’t have to buy replacement filters as often.

As you need it to clean up around your litter box, which can often be a small space, it needs to be easy to maneuver into tight areas. Therefore, a cordless handheld vacuum will be better suited as these are usually lighter than a bulkier, regular vacuum cleaner.

A shop vacuum is also a good pick as this moves around on wheels and normally has a long hose. So the weight of the motor and canister isn’t as much of a factor.

But, as we’ve said above, the vacuum still needs to have strong suction. And some really lightweight models aren’t as powerful – so they won’t be suited if you have lots of pet hair and kitty litter to pick up over larger areas.

If this is your household, a shop vac or upright vacuum is the best option. You can still look for a model that isn’t too heavy.

A bagged vac is a good pick, especially for cat owners. This is because when cleaning, you don’t need to open up the dirt canister and see all the soiled litter you’ve just picked up!

Instead, after vacuuming, you can just throw the bag in the trash. You don’t need to be exposed to the nasty debris you’ve cleaned up, but only need to replace the bag for the next use.

So bagged vacuums tend to be more sanitary. On the other hand, with a bagless vacuum cleaner, you’ll need to open up the dust bin after you’ve vacuumed and throw all the debris into your trash bin.

This may seem like less maintenance. And it’ll save you money on replacement bags.

But because the kitty litter might be soiled, you’ll have to empty the canister after each use. It wouldn’t be pleasant to leave it in your vacuum until you next use it – yuck!

Plus, the very fine particles in cat litter can clog up the inner machinery of a bagless model over time.

Therefore, it’s down to your personal preference whether you opt for a bagged or bagless model.

For example, a crevice tool, dusting brush, or pet power brush will all make your life easier when it comes to cleaning up after your pets.
This Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum comes with a mini motorized brush. This will pick up pet hair and debris from your surfaces, and also pollen and other tiny bacteria.
The more tools you have at your disposal, the better. This way, you’ll be able to pick up scattered litter no matter where it’s reached on your carpets and hardwood floors.