Buyer's Guide Table of Contents
What is the best vacuum for cat litter? Well, according to our tests, the best vacuum for cat litter is the Electrolux EL4335B. When cleaning cat litter, you need strong, thorough suction and the ability to get into small crevices. The Electrolux EL4335B is capable of all of this and more.
See some of the other vacuum cleaners that caught our eye for cleaning up cat litter.
VAcuum | Summary |
|---|---|
Shark Rotator Truepet  | Powerful and multifunctional, this vacuum will make your home look like you don’t even have pets. Power is at your fingertips for maximum efficiency. |
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum  | This handheld vacuum was made with your pets in mind. Cleaning cat hair from tight spaces is a breeze with this unit. |
Editor's Choice Electrolux EL4335B  | This powerhouse vacuum provides excellent suction to grasp all the hair and litter throughout your home. Lightweight with a long-reaching cord and hose make this a user-friendly machine. |
Miele Pure Suction  | This compact vacuum is incredibly versatile for all areas of your home. Gentle enough for your blinds, yet powerful enough to grasp soft cat hairs. |
Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind  | This lightweight vacuum is wonderful for smaller homes or apartments. Its features make for quick and efficient cleaning. |
We Test To Find The Best Vacuum For Cat Litter!
Cleaning cat litter is without a doubt the worst part about having a cat. The particles are often small, and hard for some vacuums to pick up.
We get it. In fact, when we test our vacuums, almost all of the tests involve cleaning cat litter because it is such a common, tricky debris type.
The best vacuums for cat litter that we suggested are all designed to make quick work of the troublesome little kitty litter rocks. So keep reading to find out which cat litter vacuum is best for your home.
Pros:
- The powerful motor makes carpets look brand new
- Versatile – able to clean hardwood, carpets, tile, and upholstery
- Pivoting head glides across carpets with ease
Cons:
- Small sized canister requires frequent emptying
More About The Shark Rotator Truepet
This Shark vacuum is ideal for cat owners who want to get the job done quickly and thoroughly. The power is literally at your fingertips with this heavy hitter.
Fingertip controls allow you to switch the unit on/off and between carpet and hard floor modes – no need to stop everything and step on a button on the front or reach around to find a button.
The TruePet motorized brush seamlessly picks up pet hair from all surfaces while the HEPA filter traps 99% of dust and allergens. For ease of use, a touch of a button lifts the canister up so you can clean hard-to-reach areas.
You won’t miss a sprinkle of cat litter with the LED lights guiding your path while its dynamic swivel steering allows you to reach under most furniture.
RELATED PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
Eureka Mighty Mite  | Shark Navigator Lift-Away  |
Black+Decker HHVI315JO42  | Dirt Devil Scorpion  |
Pros:
- Great suction: Sucks up hair in the target area
- Lightweight design makes it easy to use on stairs
- Rubber attachment is easier to clean than roll-brushes
Cons:
- Blows air out of both sides, so aim carefully
More About The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
This Bissell vacuum is a powerful hand vacuum made to clear out pet hair. A specialized rubber nozzle attracts hair and litter for a deep clean.
It may be small, but that does not diminish its suction power. With 4 amps and multi-level filtration system easily pick up your fluffy friend’s litter spills.
This small, lightweight vacuum can be used on cat trees, carpets, upholstery, and even car interiors. Its compact design and 16-foot power cord make it simple to use just about anywhere.
The dirt cup holds about 0.78 L, which is great for its size. Using this Bissell to regularly spot clean will reduce the number of times you will have to lug out your heavy upright model.
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RELATED PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
Eureka Mighty Mite | Shark Navigator Lift-Away |
Black+Decker HHVI315JO42 | Dirt Devil Scorpion |
Pros:
- Power cord and hose have long reach
- Versatile tools for convenient cleaning
- Three-way adjustable heigh
Cons:
- The stiff hose can make it awkward to use
More About The Electrolux EL4335B
This Electrolux model is a premium vacuum with filtration and suction power ready to combat your cat’s messy litter box problem. The 12-amp motor and exhaust HEPA filter combine to rid your home of hair, dirt, debris, and litter dust that accumulates.
The premium filtration system ensures that you have a cleaner home by capturing 99.97% of the dust, allergens, and other irritants that are found throughout our homes.
Versatile for your needs with a brush roll on/off switch and ability to adjust for three different heights. The brush roll can be cleaned with a press of a button that releases tangles from the bristles.
Bare floors, plush carpets, and upholstery can all be cleaned effortlessly with the included tools to help you reach sharp crevices and stairs.
This vacuum comes with a 21-foot cord and hose with a reach of the 8-feet combine to make cleaning large areas a quick and seamless process for you.
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RELATED PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
Eureka Mighty Mite | Shark Navigator Lift-Away |
Black+Decker HHVI315JO42 | Dirt Devil Scorpion |
Pros:
- Easy to switch between hard floors and carpets
- Versatile: 6-setting suction control great for all areas
- The bag is easy to replace
Cons:
- Attachment pieces on the hose can fall off during use
More About The Miele Pure Suction
This Miele vacuum is built for power with a 1,200-watt vortex motor. Suction is controllable on this classy looking machine with a 6-setting rotary dial to customize your cleaning experience.
No area of your home will be left untouched – wand attachments for cleaning ceiling fans and blinds are gentle, yet effective. Deep set pet hair and cat litter dust can be suctioned up with ease.
The floorhead piece has a button that allows you to switch between low carpet and hard floors, while the rubber wheels make sliding a smooth and safe for your wood floors. Accessories for different, hard-to-reach areas of your home are conveniently attached to the hose.
RELATED PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
Eureka Mighty Mite | Shark Navigator Lift-Away |
Black+Decker HHVI315JO42 | Dirt Devil Scorpion |
Pros:
- Automatic cord rewind
- Accessories made for pet hair removal
- LED indicator alerts you when filter needs replaced
Cons:
- Heavy: This can make cleaning difficult
More About The Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind
This lightweight Hoover vacuum is made for ease of use around your home. The 25-foot cord is designed with rewind technology, so it retracts itself with a tap of the pedal. The handle folds, making this more compact and less bulky for easy storage.
Pet hair can be disposed of with the Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool. This accessory detaches so you can clean furniture, and the 12-inch extension wand helps to get into tight spots.
Great for all areas of your home with its 5-position adjustment feature.
RELATED PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
Eureka Mighty Mite | Shark Navigator Lift-Away |
Black+Decker HHVI315JO42 | Dirt Devil Scorpion |
Will a Vacuum be Ruined by Cat Litter?
This is a valid question and a very common rumor surrounding the world of vacuums and cats. There are now vacuums made to handle pet messes, like the products listed above. Granted, even though they are made for litter messes, you still need to clean smartly.
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How to Vacuum Cat Litter
If there is a pile of cat litter, try to sweep up as much of it as you can before running your vacuum. Large amounts of cat litter can clog a vacuum – or, worse, damage internal components and clog filters.
Vacuums can spread the odor of scented litter throughout the home. So, be careful to sweep up as much scented litter as possible.
Once you have swept up large amounts of litter, or if there wasn’t much to deal with, go ahead and run your vacuum over dry litter. Never vacuum up wet or heavily soiled cat litter unless your vacuum specifically handles wet debris.
What to Look For In a Vacuum for Cat Litter
As a cat owner, you already know that most cats make a mess when it comes to their litter boxes. They track the litter outside of the container when it is stuck to their paws and it spreads all of over the house.
Cleaning these little pieces of litter up can be a tedious, and sometimes gross process. Having a vacuum that is able to clean up the pieces, without getting too clogged or damaged, can make the entire process a lot easier and leave your home mess-free. There are four main things you need in a vacuum that can help greatly with the cleanup.
Reliability
There is no point in having a great, multitasking vacuum if it's just going to break down after a couple of months of use. You need a vacuum that is going to last through at least a couple of years of uses and messes.
Another aspect of a reliable and durable vacuum is the warranty. That is something that should be seriously considered in the buying process because of the length of the warranty is important to be aware of.
Its best to look for models that are covered for at least two years, in case anything is to happen, you know you are protected.
Mobility
No one wants to have to lug a 20 lbs vacuum around the house to clean up a simple mess. It is always easier to be able to quickly pick up the vacuum and bring it where the mess is.
Having a vacuum that is light and easy to lift is important because the messes can be anywhere, you should be able to bring your vacuum anywhere too.
And, since the litter can reach places you didn’t even think it could, you need a vacuum that can practically get into any space that your cat is able to. Their little paws bring the litter everywhere and you need to be able to pick it all up. In addition to that, having a vacuum with a crevice tool is very useful.
It can pick up the messes in the corners of walls, in between cushions, and, paired with a brush roll, can be extremely helpful if the litter is tracked onto the stairs or furniture.
The last aspect of having a vacuum with great mobility is looking into whether or not it has a cord. This is really up to a preference for those with regular-sized households, where space is not as wide and open.
However, if you do have a larger home and there is a lot of area in one room, having a vacuum with a cord can be a challenge when the wall is so far from the middle of the room.
Powerful Suction
Depending on where you keep your cat litter box, you can determine what model vacuum you buy. However, regardless of the location, whichever vacuum you buy needs to have the ability to suck up anything that it passes over.
If you keep the litter box in the living room or any other typically carpeted area, then having a vacuum with powerful suction is a must.
You want it to be able to get into the carpet and pick up those small pieces of litter that get really deep in between the material. Otherwise, they will remain in your carpet and create odors that will be even harder to get out.
Keeping your cat litter box on hard floors is more preferable, to avoid that hassle of the litter getting into the carpet. Cleaning tile or wood floors is a lot easier than cleaning the carpet, but you are still able to use a vacuum to pick up those pieces.
It is easier, in fact, to use a vacuum than a broom, and you know that everything is being picked up. A vacuum with powerful suction allows you to effortlessly glide over your floor and remove all of the unwanted litter.
Tips to Avoid Excessive Scattering of Cat Litter
If you just recently brought a new cat into your household, or you just have no interest in buying a new one, a vacuum might not be something you are going to be looking into getting right now. However, there are a few other things you can do to prevent the mess of litter spreading so that you wouldn’t have to worry about cleaning it up later.
Type of litter
This issue of tracking litter everywhere is nothing new to cat owners. That is why there are specially made litters out there that fix this problem for you.
Litters that are labeled as “low-tracking” are made to reduce the amount of litter that gets out because they are heavier litter gravel. Another type is one that clumps up the litter after your cat uses it, so that is less likely to stick to their fur.
Different litter box
A different litter box may be the fix you need. If your current litter box is just in the shape of a tray, then getting one with a lid or cover on it can help a lot in not only minimizing the tracking but the smell as well. Another option is to get a bigger litter box altogether. It gives your cat more room to walk around inside, so less litter is stuck in their fur when they leave.
Litter Mat
An easy and simple solution to reduce tracking is to just get a litter mat. You place them right under the entire litter box or if you do have a box that is covered, then just in front of the entrance of the cat box.
When your cat steps on it, it will catch all of the litter that falls off their behinds or paws, and keep it on the mat. This can significantly reduce the amount of litter that spreads everywhere because the mat captures most of the litter right as your cat walks out of the box.
Good placement
Where you keep the litter box can be very helpful in keeping the spread of the litter to the rest of your house at a low. Keeping it in the corner of a room or up against a wall reduces the different directions it can spread around the box.
Or, if you are able to, keep the litter box in an area that you don’t use that often, like a spare bedroom or just a room that you use for storage. Most of the litter will be kept within that space and will be less likely to spread to other places outside of that room.
Conclusion
Cats can be very messy creatures in regards to their litter boxes. That is why you can use these tips to prevent the mess, or you can have a reliable vacuum to clean up the litter if it does spread.
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