If you are in a rush and want to skip ahead to our number one cat litter vacuum look no further than Shark Navigator Vacuum Cleaner.
Introduction
Cats are clean freaks and low maintenance pets. They can, however, be messy.
Are you tired of constantly cleaning up your kitty’s litter? Perhaps you already tried Top-Entry Litterboxes and non-tracking litter but still find yourself having to sweep litter around your house?
Maybe it’s time to give a specialized vacuum cleaner a try.
We made a guide to help you choose the best vacuum for cat litter for your situation.
In this article, we’ll review the following vacuums, specifically for their ability to handle cat litter and hair
- Bissell Cleanview Upright Orange Vacuum Cleaner, 1831. (also available on Chewy.com!)
- Armor All, AA255, 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Vacuum Cleaner.
- Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E Vacuum Cleaner.
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, 33A1 (also available on Chewy.com!)
- BLACK+DECKER dusbuster, Flexi Blue (HHVI315JO42)
Why a Cat Litter Vacuum Cleaner can help
Cat litter companies advertise their products as 99.9% dust-free or non-tracking. Some of it, however, will inevitably get out of the litter box and spread all over the house.
Most vacuums are able to handle small litter particles, but it’s the large piles that make the difference.
The wrong vacuum cleaner can get damaged by the litter particles. That’s why it’s important to consider a cat litter vacuum. These specialized vacuums can handle all forms of litter with ease and efficiency.
Different Types of Cat Litter Vacuums
Robotic
Some of us just don’t have the time to do daily litter cleaning. Robots to the rescue! Simply schedule the working time and watch it do its thing.
The best part is that a robot vacuum can do the cleaning several times a day.
Before purchasing one, ensure that the vacuum works for litter and is compatible with your floor surface.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Efficient | ❌ Most get stuck on thick carpets. |
| ✔️Small, compact and easy to store. | ❌ Small dustbin |
| ✔️Ideal for the handicapped and elderly. | |
| ✔️Low noise levels |
Stick
Stick vacuums are light and maneuverable. Gone are the days when vacuum cleaners were all bulky and noisy.
This type is the best for quickly cleaning bare floors and low pile carpets. Stick vacuums don’t do heavy clean ups well though.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Lightweight | ❌ Not ideal for large cleanups |
| ✔️Can be converted to handheld vacuum cleaners | |
| ✔️Adjustable height. | |
| ✔️Easily slides underneath furniture | |
| ✔️Easy to store |
Handheld
A handheld cleaner goes where other vacuums can’t reach. It’s typically a smaller portable version of traditional vacuums. This cleaning device is great for quick cleanups. Remember though, this machine works as a secondary to the full-sized vacuum. Alternatively, you can go for one that converts into a handheld vacuum to get a 2-in1 solution.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Best for spot cleaning. | ❌ Poor at large clean-ups |
| ✔️Portable | |
| ✔️Easy to use |
Upright
Upright vacuum cleaners have been the most common type of cleaners for a long time. They hold the weight on the cleaner head that the user has to push in front of him.
This feature together with its motorized brushes makes deep cleaning a walk in the park. These cleaners are usually great if you need to do a deep cleaning to get rid of fleas from your house.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Ideal for cleaning thick carpets and rugs. | ❌ Can be heavy |
| ✔️Wide cleaning path | ❌ Less effective when cleaning corners. |
Canister
Canister vacuums have a cleaning nozzle placed at the wand’s end and linked to the vacuum through a hose. They have wheels to help the user drag it around.
Canister vacuums clean stairs and hard to reach places better than upright vacuum cleaners.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Ease in cleaning | ❌ Assembling may be required before use. |
| ✔️Reduced noise | ❌ Harder to store. |
| ✔️Powerful | |
| ✔️Better maneuverability |
Wet/Dry
It doesn’t get any more multifaceted than wet/dry vacuum cleaners. These devices are designed to handle both liquid spills and dry dirt, hardwood and carpets. Think of when your cat litters all the way to the wet bathroom floors.
One might ask, won’t I get electrocuted? No, you won’t. The electrical components are perfectly insulated and separated from the other parts.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Versatile | ❌ Heavy |
| ✔️Can remove larger objects | ❌ Requires constant maintenance |
| ✔️Powerful |
Features to look for when buying a vacuum cleaner for cat litter
Finding the best cat litter vacuum cleaner can be confusing given the many brands and styles in the market. Here are some considerations I found helpful while going through the products.
Bagged vs Bagless
Where my eco-friendly people at?
There’s something for you. Bagless vacuum cleaners. These devices come with dust bins that can be emptied after each use, eliminating the need to constantly buy new bags. The only downside is that emptying the bin may create dust, bothering people or cats with allergies.
On the other hand, bagged vacuums tend to be better if you do large clean-ups (as they have a larger capacity) and if you or your cat are allergic.
Cord vs cordless
Nowadays technology is measured by its mobility and convenience. A cordless vacuum seems like the best idea for this same reason, right? Well, not to burst your bubble but many factors need to be considered. How is its battery life? How long does it take to recharge?
Corded vacuums have unlimited runtime. Their major setback is clearly that you’ll have the cord laying around everywhere you are trying to clean. And that you might have to change power sockets everytime you change rooms.
Suction Power
Just how impressive is its ability to pick up cat litter?
Suction goes hand in hand with power. The more the ampere (or watts) in the motor the higher the suction.
Most vacuum cleaners perform relatively well on bare floors. It’s the thick carpets and rugs that pose a challenge. Some particles also prove too heavy for some machines to pick up.
So when you are comparing different cleaners make sure to compare their power (measured in Ampere or Watts).
Filter
The vacuum’s filtration system is important. Luckily vacuum cleaners for cat litter have multi-layer filtration systems for added efficiency.
Some also have filters that are washable and easy to replace.
Do you have allergy-prone people and pets at home? I recommend buying a machine that keeps all the litter within the vacuum.
Size and Weight
Cleaning doesn’t have to look like weightlifting.
What’s the point of a handheld vacuum that’s too heavy to get the job done? Or a robot vacuum that’s too large to fit under your furniture? Please remember to keep these questions in mind when choosing your cat litter vacuum.
Best Vacuums for Cat Litter Reviews
Bissell Cleanview Upright Orange Vacuum Cleaner, 1831.
Bissell is a company known for its quality yet affordable vacuums. The Bissell Cleanview 1831 is no exception.
This 15.4lbs vacuum uses OnePass Technology to pick up dirt with fewer passes than the other models reviewed. It has a powerful 8 amperes motor, a Multi-Cyclonic System, and multi-level filtration that captures and keeps dirt in the bin where it should be.
Compared to some of the other ones we reviewed, this vacuum is a bit costly but it gets the job done amazingly well. It has a 25ft power cord, a 6ft hose, and an extension wand for extended reach when cleaning.
The company swears by its versatility. They say it can clean different surfaces from bare floors, carpets, sealed hard floors, to upholstery and stairs.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Large dust cup capacity | ❌ (Corded)Limited cleaning range |
| ✔️ OnePass Technology | ❌ No automatic cord roll up |
| ✔️ Multi-level filtration | ❌ Short hose |
| ✔️ Washable filter | |
| ✔️ Lightweight | |
| ✔️ Versatile | |
| ✔️ Affordable |
Armor All, AA255, 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Vacuum Cleaner.
Talking of a vacuum that can handle both liquid spills and dry litter.
Armor All, AA255 was specifically designed to clean cars, so as you can imagine it super versatile and it works really well inside too.
It has a 2.5-gallon tank that’s light but large enough for most jobs. This vacuum cleaner has 2 horsepower motors with a total of 6 amps to provide excellent suction, so you know it does a great job at sucking litter.
Considering its capabilities, this is a relatively cheap vacuum. It has a 10-foot cord with wrap and a 6ft hose that’s 1.25-inch-wide for effective suctioning. Guess what! You can even convert it into a blower to dry surfaces.
The machine has an automatic shut off to prevent overflow and a noise diffuser for quiet cleaning. Armor All also comes equipped with a deluxe car nozzle to get into tight spaces and a detail brush to clean vents and electronic equipment.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Handles both wet and dry pickup | ❌ (Corded) Limited mobility |
| ✔️ Affordable | |
| ✔️ Extra handy tools | |
| ✔️ Low noise levels | |
| ✔️ No assembly required | |
| ✔️ Blower function |
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E Vacuum Cleaner
Do you prefer performance over aesthetics? Here’s one for you!
The shark NV356E is one great and extra powerful vacuum machine. It boasts a 10 amps motor and a HEPA filter to effortlessly trap even the finest of cat litter. In fact, the company states that it traps 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum. Impressive, right?
That’s not all. The vacuum uses Shark’s no-lose suction technology to ensure you vacuum with the same power even when the bin is nearly full.
The machine uses a brush roll to clean carpets. You can shut off the brush roll to clean hard floors. It also allows you to clean hard to reach surfaces by pressing a button and lifting the canister away.
This vacuum cleaner is a bit more expensive than the rest. But with all these extraordinary features one might say the price is justified.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Large dust cup capacity | ❌ Stiff and short hose |
| ✔️ Anti-allergen complete seal | ❌ Mobility could be better |
| ✔️ 5-yr warranty | ❌ Heavy top |
| ✔️ Powerful | |
| ✔️ HEPA filter | |
| ✔️ Great suction |
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, 33A1
Looking for something convenient and easy to use? Look no further than the Bissell Pet Hair 33A1.
This 5lbs handheld device is fitted with a 4 amps motor and a multi-layer filtration system to get all the cat litter on the surface.
The vacuum has a 16-feet power cord. This offers unlimited cleaning time but not enough mobility.
The cleaner has an easy to empty bagless canister with a dirt capacity of 0.78 litres.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is relatively cheap, and has two suction nozzles specially designed to pull out cat litter and hair with ease.
The company states that its cyclonic cleaning system proves effective in vacuuming hard to reach surfaces, stairs, and upholstery. However, some cat owners stated that it doesn’t work best on textured fabric.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Comes with a rubber nozzle | ❌ Limited cleaning range |
| ✔️ Easy to empty | ❌ Pricey replacement filters |
| ✔️ Lightweight and compact | |
| ✔️ Most affordable | |
| ✔️ Ergonomic handle |
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster, Flexi Blue (HHVI315JO42)
This handheld vacuum cleaner comes packaged with many capabilities and at an affordable price.
It has a capacity of 13 ounces to collect and store litter and debris with ease.
The machine has a wide mouth design to get even the large clumps. Its cyclonic action helps to keep the filter clean and offer strong suction.
Black + Decker dustbuster weighs only 2.11 pounds. How portable is that! It comes with a wall mount for easy storage and a crevice tool to clean the hard to reach areas and tight corners.
A brush attachment is also included in the packaging to clean and dust upholstery.
The vacuum cleaner is cordless hence you can move around with ease. some users report the battery deteriorating pretty badly after a while. Now, that can prove very problematic.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Lightweight | ❌ Long charging time |
| ✔️ Good dirt bowl capacity | ❌ Short battery runtime |
| ✔️ Easy to clean | |
| ✔️ Extra handy tools included | |
| ✔️ Easy to store |
Conclusion
A vacuum cleaner for cat litter is a great choice for any pet owner. It makes your home enjoyable to live in especially if you own kitties that litter around.
The best vacuum for cat litter for you is the one that you are happy to use!
My top pick is the Shark Navigator Vacuum Cleaner. It is a bit more expensive than the others we reviewed, but if you’re looking to have no trouble at all picking up litter, than that’s the way to go! Also, since it’s bagless, it means that you only pay the price once and you’re done, no more worrying about buying vacuum bags.
The vacuum cleaner also comes with many extra tools that allow you to comfortably clean any surface.
If that’s not spectacular, I don’t know what is!