Best Vacuum for Cat Litter to Clean Poop Off Every Surface

Best Vacuum for Cat Litter to Clean Poop Accidents

Best Vacuum for Cat Litter to Clean Poop Accidents

Dec 09, 2022
2786
You can shoulder the blame on your cats as much as you want, and it is still your responsibility to clean up their mess at the end of the day. But this is no easy task, and not all pet owners are lucky enough to have their cats doing their business in the litter box all the time.

Getting the best vacuum for cat litter is a reasonable solution when the problem with cat poop has gotten out of control. A powered tool like this can get the job done more quickly compared to a dustpan and in a cleaner fashion.

But there are literally thousands and thousands of vacuums from different manufacturers out there. Not every one of them can work with the situation of your household. Find the best vacuum for cat litter with this guide and keep everything under control.

Best Vacuum For Cat Litter

Dyson V11 Outsize - Best Overall

≫ Easy to use

≫ Pick up most debris on multiple surfaces

≫ Intuitive LCD screen

≫ Sleek design

≫ Decent battery life

≫ Good capacity

95/100
our score
215
Researched Sources
411
Reviews Considered
45
Hours Researching
39
Products Evaluated
Picture Products Rating/Shop
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Products

Dyson V11 Outsize - Best Overall

Rating
95
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
96%
Easy to use
95%
Lightweight
94%
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Products

Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog - Runner-up

Rating
94
Suction Power
97%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%
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Products

Dirt Devil Scorpion - Budget Choice

Rating
94
Suction Power
94%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
95%
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Products

Dyson Ball Animal 2 - Best Corded Upright

Rating
94
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%
Image
Products

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser - Best Cordless Handheld

Rating
96
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
98%
Lightweight
94%
Image
Products

LG CordZero - Best Mid-Range Cordless Stick

Rating
94
Suction Power
92%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
94%
Lightweight
94%
Image
Products

Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet - Best Mid-Range Corded Upright

Rating
94
Suction Power
96%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
95%
Lightweight
92%
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Products

Bissell Featherweight - Budget Corded Stick

Rating
92
Suction Power
90%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%
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Products

Black+Decker dustbuster - Budget Cordless Handheld

Rating
94
Suction Power
90%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
96%
Lightweight
95%
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Products

Shark Navigator NV365E - Budget Corded Upright

Rating
93
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
92%
Lightweight
92%
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Products

Eureka RapidClean Pro - Budget Cordless Stick

Rating
95
Suction Power
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
95%
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Products

Bissell Zing - Budget Canister

Rating
92
Suction Power
93%
Maneuverability
91%
Easy to use
92%
Lightweight
92%

Dyson V11 Outsize - Best Overall

95 %
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
96%
Easy to use
95%
Lightweight
94%

Pros:

≫ Sleek design

Easy to use

Decent battery life

Good capacity

Pick up most debris on multiple surfaces

Intuitive LCD screen

 

Cons:

≫ Pricey

≫ Loud

≫ Heavy

This British manufacturer is well-known for its powerful cordless vacuums. The V11 Outsize, its latest flagship model, is a prime example. Equipped with a bigger cleaner head and dirt bin, as well as smart features, it guarantees to work not only with kitty litter but also with other debris types on multiple surfaces.

Unlike traditional upright machines, the V11 Outsize isn't bulky at all. The slim and sleek design is just 4 feet long with a weight under 8 pounds, making it suitable for anyone from teens to seniors. But Dyson managed to attach a big LCD screen on the wide end of the handle.

Compared to the V10, its predecessor, the V11 Outsize can produce suction 20% more powerful. To achieve this feat, Dyson uses an array of several cyclones to generate the suction. This model also marks the return of Dyson's 6-layer filtration system.

You can remove the battery of the V11 Outsize and replace it with a spare within seconds. All you need to do is to push a button on the handle. You can also purchase extra batteries from Dyson when the ones coming with your vacuum can't hold much electricity anymore.

With this cordless stick machine, you have three power modes. You can switch between them with the push of a button as well.

The most energy-efficient setting is Eco. The suction it generates is the weakest, but it also means this setting will give you the longest runtime. On the other hand, the Boost mode stands true to its name and gives the most powerful suction. As a result, the battery also drains much more quicker.

To strike a better balance between battery life and cleaning performance, you can opt for the Medium setting. Meanwhile, the Auto mode automatically determines the power suction it needs to generate depending on the surface you are cleaning.

The rear-mounted screen allows you to keep track of various kinds of information in all modes, including how much juice the battery has left. It will also alert you when the filter needs to be cleaned, for instance.

The V11 Outsize comes with several accessories in the box, including a drop-in dock, a stubborn dirt brush, a softer dusting brush, a mini motorized tool, a crevice tool, and a combination tool.

This vacuum is extremely easy to use, making it the best vacuum for kitty litter. You will have total control over it despite the supercharged motor and long handle. It did a great job picking cat litter in our tests, especially when we attached the crevice tool.

Like other Dyson products, the cost is the biggest thing that puts off customers when they are shopping around for a vacuum. This vacuum is also incredibly loud when you put it on Boost mode. After a long vacuuming session, your hands may get tired quickly as well.

➜ RELATED: Dyson V11: The Cordless Miracle of Vacuum Inventions

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Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog - Runner-up

94 %
Suction Power
97%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

≫ Outstanding suction

Built-in attachment storage

Two brush heads

Big capacity

Various speed settings

Thoughtful filtration system design

Cons:

≫ Exorbitant price

Bulky

This is your best bet when you still love the old-school design, where you drag a corded canister behind you whenever you clean. There are natural disadvantages to this design, but we can't deny the amazing results the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog can give you.

Miele has always been known as a premium manufacturer. Its products are well-built with powerful cleaning performance. And the Complete C3 Cat & Dog is no exception. The resin plastic feels sturdy and able to stand up against a lot of abuse. Additionally, the rubber band helps protect the skirting boards against battering when moved around.

It is a bagged cylinder, which is taller and narrower than traditional canisters. Still, at 15.5 pounds, it is still a heavy machine. What makes it not a hassle to move around (even on carpets) is the rear casters and front wheels.

The Complete C3 Cat & Dog provides a crevice nozzle, a dusting brush, an upholstery nozzle, and two floor brushes out of the box. You can store all of these attachments in the main machine by opening its lid, which is located in the back.

The ability to store accessories all the time is always a big plus for us. Vacuum accessories are small and can easily get lost if you have to put them away somewhere else. This built-in storage compartment is surely a nice touch.

You can use the crevice nozzle for a lot of things, not just picking up the mess of your furry friends. Tight spaces like areas behind your sofa are good places to put it to use. The dust cup of this Miele canister is impressively big, meaning a few trips back and forth between the room and your trash bin.

The long cord is another convenient feature. It will come in handy when you have a small apartment. When you are done cleaning it, just tap the foot pedal in the back, and the entire cord will retract back to the main unit.

While the stiff-bristled head can hardly move on carpets, it works wonders on hard flooring. Most of the time, however, you will want to use the powered Turbobrush. It features spinning bristles, which help the brush collect pretty much everything, from cat hair to their poop.

You can manually adjust the level of suction to match the conditions of the flooring. But its moderate suction is already so powerful that we don't think you will ever need to push this 890W motor to its limit.

Again, the cost is the main reason many people may find the Complete C3 Cat & Dog not a practical buy. Its size also doesn't make this canister a quick fix when you have an emergency at home with your cats and dogs.

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Dirt Devil Scorpion - Budget Choice

94 %
Suction Power
94%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
95%

Pros:

≫ Cheap

Decent suction

Lightweight and easy to maneuver

Compact, not demanding much storage space

Great for small houses

A handful of attachments

Cons:

 Small capacity

Short cord

Not for heavy-duty cleaning tasks

There is no need to splurge money on a vacuum that you only need once in a while. Options like the Dirt Devil Scorpion can provide a quick fix when your poop situation with your cats isn't that bad. And the best part is the price tag is very budget-friendly to everyone.

This is a compact corded handheld vacuum - exactly the type of product that has helped Dirt Devil make a name for itself. Since its debut in the 1980s, the Scorpion still retains its iconic red look. But there are several improvements that you shouldn't overlook.

When we plugged in the machine, its suction power was the first thing we noted. There were a lot of noticeable differences in the Dirt Devil Scorpion compared to other handhelds we had tested.

For starters, the Scorpion roared alive the moment it was switched on, making our hands shake a little. It took us some seconds to get familiar with the kind of power this vacuum produced.

At 3 pounds, the Dirt Devil Scorpion is lightweight and a pleasure to maneuver. There are plenty of accessories you can attach to it. Our favorite is the stair tool, which features an adjustable head designed for horizontal and vertical vacuuming on carpeted stairs.

This tool is also a great solution for pet hair on rugs and upholstered furniture. It can suck up an astounding amount of hair and other debris from those surfaces just after a few minutes.

For non-carpeted surfaces like hardwood floors, you don't need any attachments. Just turn on the Dirt Devil Scorpion in its default configuration, and you are good to go. There is just one suction setting, but it is good enough for a wide variety of debris.

We tested this suction on the litter of our cat, and the result was decent. This handheld works well with other debris like dry pet food too. It barely leaves anything behind, thanks to the powerful suction.

Remember, this is a corded machine with a cable that is just 16 feet long. It is only suitable for small messes. Look for other options and be ready to pay more if you, for instance, have two cats that always poop outside the litter box.

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Dyson Ball Animal 2 - Best Corded Upright

94 %
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

≫ Extraordinary suction

Work on all surfaces

Huge dust canister

Long reach

Glide well on floors and under furniture

Cons:

≫ Bulky and heavy

Not really affordable

With the Ball Animal 2, Dyson has proved that it can make more than just cordless stick vacuums. As long as corded uprights are concerned, this is the best vacuum for cat litter that can deal with most debris types in your household, including cat litter.

This is a bulky machine - we aren't going to lie about that. At 15.35 x 42.13 x 13.39 inches (depth x height x width) and 17.5 pounds, the Ball Animal 2 doesn't look like any other upright model on the market.

But the size isn't the most unusual feature. This should go to the massive ball sitting between the dust canister and the cleaning head. However, this design doesn't hinder the maneuverability of this Dyson upright. In fact, this ball-shaped component is designed to make it even more highly maneuverable.

The Ball technology is one of the most famous of Dyson and one of the reasons this manufacturer can ask for so much money from customers. It allows models like the Animal 2 to navigate tight spaces better than traditional uprights from competing brands.

Its cleaner head can adjust with each movement as well, providing proper suction for every corner on all carpet and rug types. You can find on the handle buttons for turning the machine and the brush bar on or off. There are also three suction settings, which you can adjust with a nearby slider.

You can convert the Ball Animal 2 into a more compact form like Shark Lift-Away uprights. But you can detach the wand on the extension tube and use the articulated handle to clean stairs, under furniture, and even high areas.

You shouldn't worry about allergic conditions with the Ball Animal 2. It has a whole-machine filtration system, making sure that every allergen is trapped inside the vacuum, not pushed back into the environment of your home. You can get the filter off and wash it to clean it further. This can be done with just the push of a button.

As we expected from its huge motor, the Dyson Ball Animal was a beast when it came to suction. It collected all large debris and fine dust in our tests on both carpets and hard floors. What was really impressive was the fact that it did so typically in just a single pass.

We didn't even need to turn on the strongest setting to witness the mighty performance of the Ball Animal 2. And you can even transform it into a handheld unit too.

There are some situations that this Dyson vacuum won't be a good fit. If space is a luxury in your place, this bulky machine is a challenge to store and use. Its handle isn't height-adjustable, and the heavy build will prevent you from carrying it up the stairs or between rooms often.

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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser - Best Cordless Handheld

96 %
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
98%
Lightweight
94%

Pros:

≫ Affordable

Strong suction

Adaptable nozzle head

Good battery life

Crevice tool available

Easy to disassemble and clean

Cons:

≫ Not for large areas

Must be held upright to prevent debris from falling out

If you love the idea of a cordless handheld unit like the dustbuster but want an upgraded choice, check out the Pet Hair Eraser from Bissell. It offers improvements in almost every aspect, and the price difference isn't that bad. It is an affordable and effective solution for pet hair and litter on car interiors, upholstery, and rugs.

What makes the Pet Hair Eraser unique and stands out from the rest of the handheld market is its nozzle head. It is rubberized and wide, providing a solution for debris on soft surfaces. It can deform and mold itself into the surface to seal all the gaps.

This allows the Pet Hair Eraser to make the most out of its suction and effectively remove hair from carpeted surfaces. You can also use the provided crevice tool for fur and dust between cushions. This attachment is quite short. However, so deep crevices are out of the question. You may need something else for areas under furniture, for instance.

This vacuum looks compact, and in reality, it is a joy to carry around. At just 5 pounds, it didn't tire our arms quickly like bulky stick vacuums. The fact that it is battery-powered also makes the Pet Hair Eraser not dependent on power outlet corded models.

The dust cup is bagless and has plenty of room to store your debris. It is just above 23 ounces, but this should be enough for cat litter and fur. Unless you have let your pets run wild during your long vacation, the pet Hair Eraser won't make you make back-and-forth trips to the trash bin.

You can easily clean most parts of this vacuum (except for the filter) since they are all removable. It is safe to clean the dust cup, nozzles, and filter screen with soap and hot water.

Performance-wise, we were impressed by the Pet Hair Eraser. Its compact build and the specially-designed nozzle put the powerful suction into use effectively. It worked everywhere we asked for cars, upholstery, and area rugs. A single swipe could clean up most of the fur, and the litter didn't take much time either.

This Bissell handheld can pick up larger particles, sand, and dirt too. Just keep in mind that small grains can fall out when the machine doesn't sit upright.

The Achilles heel of the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is large carpeted areas. This is a tedious task that may require you to be on your knees, manually pushing the vacuum over the entire surface without the help of a roller brush or wheels.

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LG CordZero - Best Mid-Range Cordless Stick

94 %
Suction Power
92%
Maneuverability
95%
Easy to use
94%
Lightweight
94%

Pros:

 Premium design

Useful standing dock

Long battery life

Hands-free emptying

Have a companion mobile app

Versatile

Built-in storage

Cons:

 Still expensive

Flimsy attachments

Dyson models have set the standard for the cordless stick market. Every competitor has to take them into account when making and marketing this popular design.

With the CordZero, LG provides something similar in performance and usability but at a lower price point. The days of dragging a hulking vacuum just for some cleanups are a thing of the past. The CordZero meets all the requirements for a modern appliance: simple, convenient, but also powerful.

The CordZero is almost 12 inches long, 40 inches high, and above 10 inches wide. But this is just the default configuration. You can convert it into a compact handheld unit and uncover hidden dust and pet fur on your couch.

One of the biggest complaints we have for stick vacuum cleaners is their dust bin. Your hands can easily get dirty no matter how careful you are when shoving the debris into the trash bin. This isn't a fun thing when you are cleaning cat litter.

To circumvent this problem, LG has come up with a brilliant idea. It again relies on the stand, in which you can put the CordZero when you want to empty it. The stand will extend its arms and grip your machine, opening its dustbin and sucking all the contents out into its own bag.

This built-in bag should be able to last for several weeks, depending on how much dirt is in your house. If this duration is only a week, it can already overcome the problem of dust getting on your hands.

The all-in-one stand features two doors covering a big storage compartment for all the attachments. Each of them has a unique designated location in this storage matching its size and shape.

On top of this stand is where you can find the spare battery's charging port. This is a thoughtful addition that gives users peace of mind when they always have a backup in case of a drained main battery.

The LG CordZero pulled so much debris and dirt out of our carpet with just a single pass. We could easily clean every inch of the surface without a drop in suction power. There are three settings: Turbo, Power, and Normal. You can get 15 minutes of cleaning out of the Turbo mode, while the handheld mode can give you 2 hours.

Most of the time, you should stick to the Normal mode, in which the CordZero can operate for 80 minutes. This should be enough to vacuum large swaths of any house.

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Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet - Best Mid-Range Corded Upright

94 %
Suction Power
96%
Maneuverability
94%
Easy to use
95%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

≫ Reasonable price

Long power cord

Detachable canister

Powerful suction

Can go under furniture

Cons:

≫ Heavy

May damage small rugs

While premium cordless sticks have made a name for Dyson, Shark is well-known for its reasonably-priced uprights. These machines get a lot of things right without hiking the cost too much.

The Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet is a great candidate from this manufacturer when pet cleaning tasks are your biggest problems. In particular, this upright is made for pet owners struggling to keep dander, litter, and fur under control.

We really loved the handle of the Shark NV752 and its fingertip controls. They can light up (which is nice when cleaning in low-light environments) and allow you to switch between different settings: thick carpets, low-pile carpets, and hard flooring. There are even LED lights on both the handle and nozzle. They can illuminate poorly lit areas under furniture or inside closets.

You can easily detach the canister by pressing a button - a featured Shark has named "Powered Lift-Away". It allows you to carry the canister in one hand and hold the cleaning head in the other. When cleaning stairs, this configuration works better than the default one. You don't need to move the whole machine with us when vacuuming up and down the stairs.

The NV752 Rotator TruePet is a corded machine. But the 30-foot cord is more than enough to clean a big room without having to change the plug. The cleaning head has swivel steering built-in as well, extending its turning radius further.

We liked the package of accessories Shark provided in the box. The motorized brush can pull out pet hair buried in seat cushions and carpets, while the multi-tool can gently clean delicate surfaces, making it the best vacuum for cat hair and litter.

As a result, the NV752 Rotator TruePet performs well on both carpeted and hard surfaces. Even after you have detached the canister, the suction won't drop. The machine can maintain its performance throughout the entire vacuuming session.

It is important to note that the NV752 Rotator TruePet is still on the heavier side. And its suction may be too powerful for small rugs. Even on the lowest setting, the machine may suck them up.

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Bissell Featherweight - Budget Corded Stick

92 %
Suction Power
90%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

 Inexpensive

Versatile with the handheld mode

Lightweight

Decent suction for quick cleanups

Cons:

 Short cord

Limited accessories

The Bissell Featherweight is an interesting product, giving the best vacuum for cat litter another meaning. It is incredibly cheap, but this vacuum is so versatile and highly maneuverable. There are plenty of scenarios we think are going to appeal to many consumers. In fact, the Featherweight is among the best-selling vacuum cleaners on various shopping platforms.

From the very first touch, you will notice how lightweight it is. With a weight of just under 6 pounds, carrying and pushing the Bissell Featherweight around is a breeze. It contributes to the main purpose of this vacuum: quick cleanups around your home. If you want to put it away, just find a cozy place where the vacuum can free-stand, and it will be out of your way.

The machine also has a simple design with just one button. You can think of the Bissell Featherweight as a handheld unit that comes with a well-designed extendable handle and floor adaptor.

You can use it on hard floors, on upholstery, and on stairs. For some pet poop or crumbs on your floor or countertop, just collapse the stick and attach the crevice tool.

The Bissell Featherweight doesn't have a big, powerful motor. But the suction is strong enough for small debris and messes your cats create. This is a bagless vacuum, so emptying the tank isn't a problem as well.

At the end of the day, the Bissell Featherweight is still a corded machine. The 15-feet cord does put a limit on how you can utilize the vacuum, especially when the area you want to clean isn't within reach of any power outlet.

There is also just one nozzle attachment for stair cleaning. Rugs and carpets are where the Bissell Featherweight can help you with your litter problem.

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Black+Decker dustbuster - Budget Cordless Handheld

94 %
Suction Power
90%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
96%
Lightweight
95%

Pros:

 Inexpensive

Sleek design

Transparent dust cup

Lightweight; easy to store and operate

Good suction

Cons:

≫ Short battery life

≫ Loud

≫  Short crevice tool

While the Dirt Devil Scorpion is an amazing choice for a few dozen bucks, its cord is still a barrier to its convenience. The popular Black+Decker dustbuster is a great alternative if you don't want to limit yourself to the distribution of electrical outlets in your home. This portable vacuum isn't just a nice investment for cat litter, but it can also clean crumbs, dirt, dry spills, and more.

The low-cost nature doesn't force Black+Decker to stick with a cheap, ugly design. The dustbuster has an attractive and sleek appearance if that is your priority. It looks modern-looking, with a clear dust cup on top of a dark gray, white, and blue color scheme. It isn't going to be an eyesore in your living environment.

You can easily see how much debris the dustbuster has collected while emptying and operating it is a breeze as well. There will be no need to assemble the unit when it is shipped to your place. All you need to do is to give it a full charge before the first use. This can be a long process, however (up to 10 hours).

There are two buttons: one for powering the machine on or off and one for releasing the nozzle (so you can release its contents into a trash bin). The dust cup has a fairly spacious capacity for a handheld unit (31.8 ounces). This should be enough for a few minor cleanups before it needs to be emptied.

Black+Decker gave us two attachments in the box, which we could attach to the machine's nozzle. The brush tool is designed for dusty places, such as bookshelves or fabric furnishings. Meanwhile, you can use the crevice attachment to get into tight areas like ceiling corners, seat cushions, or under furniture.

Despite the fact that the dustbuster runs on battery, it is assuredly powerful. It can suck up anything from kitty litter, stray kibble, and cereal to pet hair or sand. Hard flooring is where this small machine excels, but it also does a decent job on upholstered surfaces.

This Black+Decker handheld can run out of power quickly. It is certainly not the solution for a full-room cleanup. It isn't a quiet machine, and the crevice attachment is fairly short.

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Shark Navigator NV365E - Budget Corded Upright

93 %
Suction Power
95%
Maneuverability
93%
Easy to use
92%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

 Affordable for a full-fledged upright

Big dust cup

Easy to move around

Versatile with plenty of attachments

Sealed filtration system

Cons:

 Heavy when fully assembled

Wobbly, easy to tip over

Want to save more money with the best vacuum cat litter for other investments? Here comes the Navigator NV365E. Shark always has the right solution for you, regardless of your budget. This best-selling machine is equipped with a lot of premium features, but it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

At first glance, you can see how similar this vacuum is to other Shark uprights. Its big canister dominates the design, sitting near the end of the handle and over the cleaner head. The swivel steering is also available for under-furniture vacuuming.

You can switch between two settings: carpets/rugs and hard floors. On the first setting, the Navigator NV365E uses its spinning brush to agitate ground-in pet hair, debris, and dirt. When this motorized brush is on, you will see a green indicator light. It will turn red if there are problems like blockages or jams in the brush.

The Lift-Away feature allows you to detach the canister with the push of a button to vacuum hard-to-reach places. You can attach one of the three accessories: the pet power brush, the dusting brush, and the crevice tool.

At 2.2 quarts (almost double other Navigator models), its big dust cup is one of the biggest advantages of the Navigator NV365E. It won't have to be emptied often, that is for sure. The downside is that it is a little heavier than its cousins too. In its full assembly, this Shark upright weighs almost 14 pounds.

The canister was wobbly when we cleaned hard floors with an attachment and the extension wand. We clearly noticed how it rocked back and forth constantly and tipped over sometimes as well.

There are places to store the dusting brush and the crevice attachment on the machine, but there is no mount for the pet power brush. This is a weird design decision that we don't have any explanation for.

Despite these design flaws, the Navigator NV365E vacuums everything pretty well, including cat litter. The suction is strong and helps the machine suck up debris effectively from both area rugs and bare floors.

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Eureka RapidClean Pro - Budget Cordless Stick

95 %
Suction Power
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Easy to use
93%
Lightweight
95%

Pros:

≫ Affordable

Extremely maneuverable and lightweight

Can be used as a handheld

Can easily get into low furniture

Built-in headlights

Cons:

 Average battery life

Not sturdy constructions

No built-in storage for attachments

When the LG CordZero is still not within your budget when shopping around for the best cat litter vacuum, consider other great choices like the Eureka RapidClean Pro. It costs a fraction of the cost of higher-end machines, but the cleaning results are still impressive.

The RapidClean Pro is one of the rare models at this price point that provide a 2-in-1 design, and both of these configurations work equally well. There are some flaws you have to live with, but overall, this is a great budget alternative for the LG and Dyson models.

The most important thing about the Eureka RapidClean Pro is that it can be used as either a handheld or a stick vacuum. The design is similar to those of other manufacturers like Shark and Dyson.

Normally, the cleaner head and wand are both attached to the main handle, allowing you to use them like a typical stick. However, you can detach the wand at any point to transform it into a handheld unit. In this mode, it is small enough for vehicle interiors and even other household vacuuming tasks.

Even at the full configuration, the RapidClean Pro has a weight of just 5.3 pounds. It helps reduce the strain placed on your wrist and hand over time and makes the machine more maneuverable. The swivel head also contributes a lot to this awesome maneuverability. You can make sharp turns without twisting yours or bending your back much.

This comes in handy when you need to vacuum along baseboards or edges. On top of that, the cleaning head can completely lay flat to get between the spaces under low-clearance furniture - something not many non-robotic models can do.

The dust bin is placed on the higher end of the handle for this feature to work. It also helps that the cleaner head has a low profile with a height of just 3.5 inches.

Eureka says that you can get 40 minutes of cleaning out of the RapidClean Pro. But this is only remotely true if you use this machine in its lowest energy-hungry mode without powered tools. Otherwise, the battery life is much shorter.

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Bissell Zing - Budget Canister

92 %
Suction Power
93%
Maneuverability
91%
Easy to use
92%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

≫ Inexpensive

≫ Work on multiple surfaces

≫ Big capacity

≫ Auto-rewind power cord

≫ Easy to move around

Cons:

 The cleaner head doesn't swivel much

Harder to vacuum carpet

Not built-in accessory storage

As this Bissell model will show, canisters aren't necessarily expensive to be effective. If you love this design and want something inexpensive, versatile, and lightweight, the Bissell Zing is hard to beat.

This canister doesn't have the egg-shaped design of Miele machines. Instead, it looks more straightforward with the canister and motor put on a wheeled construction.

There is nothing much to assemble. The machine comes with the main hose and an extension wand. There are also a multi-surface cleaner head, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush. The 9-AMP motor produces cyclonic suction, in which air spins at super high speeds, creating mini tornados to collect particles, pollens, hair, dust, and dirt.

The dust cup of the Bissell has a 1.8 dry quart capacity, large enough for a medium house when you vacuum it one or two times a week. To switch between carpeted and hard floors, you can flip a switch.

The compact design of the Bissell Zing helped us with vacuuming under crevices and around corners fairly well, even though the floor head didn't swivel much to our liking. The crevice tool excelled at upholstered couches. The vacuum concentrated its intense suction into this small attachment, getting rid of dirt and crumbs quickly.

The dirt cup can detach from the main unit with the push of a button, allowing you to empty it without a mess. The cord of the Bissell Zing can also retract automatically back into its base. All you need to do is push a button.

It is easy to stash the Bissell Zing away, thanks to its small size, be it in a cabinet, closet, or laundry room. However, you will need to find a place to store all the accessories since Bissell provides no built-in storage for them.

However, when there was a lot of pet hair, the Bissell Zing fell short of our expectations. On carpets, it didn't have the smoothest glides either.

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How To Pick The Best Vacuum For Cat Litter

Type

Different vacuum designs have their own strong points and weaknesses. Some are better at getting into tight spaces like under your furniture, while others are easy to carry around a large room.

Pet owners can put the litter box of their cats in different locations to hide them from sight. This also plays a role when you pick the design of the best vacuum for cat litter.

Handheld vacuums are the best choice when you plan to designate them only for your litter box that has been tucked away in tight spaces.

Compared to other types, they are compact machines that can reach those areas more easily. A lot of them are battery-powered and work without a power cord as well, making handheld vacuums even harder when there is just a little cat litter in some hard-to-reach place.

Canisters are a more traditional design, as you will have to pull the main body behind you. They are powerful machines that can provide strong suction and suck up a great amount of debris before you have to empty their dust bin. However, you may find it a bit overkill and too cumbersome to handle.

Canister vacuums have plenty of capacity to store debris

Canister vacuums have plenty of capacity to store debris

Uprights are another popular type. As the name suggests, it stands upright in front of you when you push it around. Corded uprights often come with plenty of power, but they are still on the bulky side. Canister and uprights models are a safe choice when you need to clean other messes in addition to the litter cat.

Stick vacuums are a great solution when you need to find the best of both worlds. They are more compact than uprights but offer more suction than handheld models. Many of them are sleek, lightweight cordless machines that are a pleasure to work with.

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Usability

Bagless and cordless machines are more convenient to use because you don't need to replace the dirt bag or are limited to the range of the power cord. Without the need for replacement bags, bagless models are more cost-efficient in the long run.

Corded vacuums still have their place. You won't have to worry about battery life with them. And since they operate directly on the main electricity, not built-in batteries, the suction power tends to be higher.

Corded vacuums limit the range you can vacuum

Corded vacuums limit the range you can vacuum

Be careful with rotating brush rolls. Make sure the vacuum can turn off, or it will break cat litter apart and create a bigger mess.

Cost

Vacuum cleaners can be as cheap as $50, and there are some machines that would cost you over a thousand bucks as well. More expensive machines aren't necessarily better, especially when they don't meet your needs. A pricey premium canister wouldn't do much for you when you just need to clean a small mess in a corner once in a while.

On the other hand, there are plenty of cheap knock-offs on the market you must stay away from. They have a flimsy build and poor design. You may save a lot of money right now, but those machines couldn't suck up anything or break after just a few months.

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Conclusion

There aren't many differences between vacuums for cat litter and for other debris types. Just make sure it can have powerful suction and the beater bar can be switched off (if there is one). On other aspects, make sure the vacuum is catered to your needs because every pet owner is different.

Most regular vacuums can work with cat litter too

Most regular vacuums can work with cat litter too

The Dyson V11 Outsize is an easy recommendation. It is the best vacuum for cat litter because it has a user-friendly design, can suck up cat litter very well, and every feature is just easy to use.

If you need something less expensive, check out mid-range options like the Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet or the LG CordZero. Low-cost products like the Dirt Devil Scorpion aren't a bad choice either if you are fully aware of their capabilities and limits.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • 01. Are Vacuums For Cat Litter Different From Regular Vacuums?
  • There aren't many differences between them. In fact, no manufacturers have ever made a product specially designed for this debris. A good vacuum is likely to work with cat litter as with other debris. The best vacuum for vinyl plank floors, for example, can be worth considering as well.

  • 02. Is It Worth Buying A Vacuum For Cat Litter?
  • It depends on how you want to clean those messes. But with a vacuum cleaner, you can do a quick cleanup without leaving your hands dirty. You may also want to consider a dedicated unit for your litter box so your main machine won't be contaminated by your cat's litter.

  • 03. When Should I Not Consider A Vacuum For Cat Litter?
  • If you have plenty of carpeted surfaces, a vacuum isn't a great idea. The suction alone isn't enough to suck up heavy debris, while the beater bar can break up the litter and spread it around even more.

  • 04. Are Bagged Or Bagless Vacuums Better For Cat Litter?
  • As in the case with the best vacuums for laminate floors, these designs have their own advantages and disadvantages. You will have to clean the dirt bin with a bagless vacuum more frequently to make sure it doesn't get dirty and smelly. But this type has a lower maintenance cost.

  • 05. Are Robot Vacuums A Good Choice?
  • Robotic units operate on their own. Even though, in recent generations, they have gotten much smarter, most of them can't tell dry and wet debris apart. It could be a mistake if you let a robot vacuum run around when there is litter on the floor.

Vacuums

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