Cats are some of the best companions you can have. Not only are they cute and cuddly, but they are also relatively easy to maintain. But even the cleanest and most well-behaved cats can make a mess sometimes. And what is more tedious than cleaning up cat litter?
Whether your cat has tracked cat litter through the house or has thrown it out of the sides of its litter box, cat litter can be a nightmare to clean.
But, with the right vacuum, it doesn’t have to be. Our list of the best five vacuum cleaners for cat litter will help you on your way to having a litter-free, odor-free home in no time.
After reading this post, not only will you have detailed descriptions on the best vacuums for picking up cat litter (which also work great for cat hair, by the way), but you’ll also discover some alternatives to vacuuming litter and, if you scroll down to the bottom, you’ll learn what to look for in a vacuum and — yuck — how to clean litter out of a vacuum when and if it gets clogged up.
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Find the Best Litter for Your Cat
Can I Vacuum Up Cat Litter?
Well, what are we talking about here?
If there’s a little bit of dry, spilled litter that got tracked into your living — probably.
If you’re talking about huge amounts, and/or pee-soaked clumps, and/or vacuuming up litter on a weekly basis — then no, unless you’re just looking for an excuse for your current vacuum to break so you can go buy a new one.
In other words, while you can vacuum up cat litter, you need to be careful of how much you vacuum up and how frequently you use it. A regular household vacuum may easily become damaged if it is used too often to pick up kitty litter — and can even start to smell after a while.
If you want to regularly pick cat litter up with a vacuum, you need to invest in a high-quality vacuum or a vacuum specifically designed for pets.
Alternatives to Vacuuming Up Cat Litter
Before we talk about specific vacuums, here are some products that, if you don’t already have them, will either make it unnecessary to clean up cat, and/or will will make the task much easier for both you and your vacuum cleaner.
Broom & Dustpan Set
OXO Good Grips Dustpan and Brush Set
My husband was the one who was smart enough to get one of these and put it in the bathroom cabinet. Now when either of us see some litter (or spilled cat food) on the floor, we just grab it, sweep it up, and dump it. Easy.
We don’t have this brand of dustpan (we’ve had ours for years and I’m not sure what it is), but Amazon reviewer Cyndi H. Parker explains why this is the best kind to get
I have cats with littler boxes on both tile and wood floors. They constantly scatter litter all over, even though I have a mat outside the boxes. Nothing worse than litter tracked all over. And I don’t want to keep a tall unsightly broom sitting out.
I have tried many different small brush/pan setups like this over the years. BUY THIS ONE! Do not waste any more time or money on any other … I bought the bigger one. It never misses, I never have littler left because it didn’t slide over the rubber and into the pan, this brush and pan picks up every single tiny piece of litter the first time. I don’t have to try over and over to get the litter into the pan, it brushes right in without any effort – this is amazing …
Carpet Rake
I didn’t even know that a carpet rake was a thing until I started researching for this article. Basically, it loosens up dirt, debris, and (cat) hair from your carpet so that your vacuum cleaner can suck it up easier.
Here’s a review from someone with a bunch of cats:
I have three long-haired cats that shed like crazy and my beige carpets look awful with little clumps of black and gray fur everywhere. I was constantly having to vacuum. I chose this particular rake because it had actual rake teeth and it really digs down and gets at the fur that’s deep down in the carpet that even my Dyson can’t pull out.
It picks up lots of other things besides the pet hair, like the strands of carpet the cats pull up when they’re chasing each other around. It’s very lightweight and probably not very durable so you have to use it with that understanding. Super easy to clean – all the material just slides right out…
A High Quality Cat Litter Tracking Mat
Gorilla Grip Thick Cat Litter Trapping Mat
What’s easier — having litter all over the floors (often even transported to different rooms) that you have to figure out how to clean up, or picking up a mat that you have to shake into the trash can?
I think we all know the answer.
The Gorilla Grip litter mat comes in over 15 different colors and 7 different sizes (including a “corner” mat and a semi-circle).
It has a durable backing so it doesn’t slide all over the place (which is the problem I’m having with my current mats), and the mat itself has deep grooves and superior mesh designed to capture litter.
TIP: One reviewer said they regretted getting a light colored mat, because the litter is always visible and it always looks dirty. Keep this in mind when choosing the color of your mat.
A Different Type of Litter Box
While the Pet Mat Litter Dome above may not specifically be your (or your cat’s) cup of tea, there are several litter box designs that are designed to keep more of the litter in the box, where it belongs. Some are top-entry (where the cats actually hop into it) and others just have higher sides.
If you think it’s time to shop for a better litter box, I have an entire post about the best litter boxes for cats who kick litter everywhere.
Best Vacuums For Cat Litter
Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter
Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter
The Shark NV752 is our top pick for the overall best vacuum for cat litter, and it isn’t hard to see why. Not only can this vacuum effortlessly suck up cat litter, but it is also fantastic for getting pet hair out of any surface.
Whether your cat has shed on your wooden flooring, tiles, or your carpet, you can rest assured that the NV752 will be able to pick it up without a hitch. You can also easily change the vacuum from hard floor to carpet mode using simple fingertip controls.
The NV752 also allows you to lift the pod or canister of the vacuum away to better reach tight spots like under furniture. It also has advanced swivel steering, so it is easier to guide and maneuver in difficult spots like around corners or around heavy furniture.
What makes this vacuum perfect for pets is its built-in self-cleaning power brush for pet hair. The NV752 also has a fully sealed HEPA filter to trap dust, dirt, and other allergens. This makes it great for individuals or families that suffer from dust-related allergies.
The capacity of the dust cup is larger than most other vacuums as well, with an 0.88-quart capacity cup.
As an additional feature, the nozzle of the vacuum is fitted with LED lights – so no matter where the pesky cat hair is trying to hide, you’ll be able to find it.
While the Shark NV752 is on the more expensive side, it is one of the best vacuums for cat litter and pet hair on the market.
It does has a cord, which can be more limiting than a cordless or handheld vacuum, but its amazing features more than make up for it.
Pros:
• Works great for cat litter and pet hair
• Easy to use in hard-to-reach places
• Advanced swivel steering
• Large dust cup
• Fully sealed HEPA filter
• Good for removing allergens
• Easy to change surface modes
• Self-cleaning pet power brush
Cons:
• Expensive
• Not cordless
This Amazon reviewer wrote their own personal, detailed lists of pros and cons for the Shark NV752 vacuum cleaner:
The Good:
- Power: this vacuum has an exceptional amount of power. I vacuum every other day and I was disgusted to see how much stuff this vacuum picked up compared to my Shark Navigator.
- LED lights: this model has LED lights on the brush and small handle, which makes seeing in low-lighting very easy (under beds, etc.)
- Flexibility: the ability to literally remove the dust bin from the unit allows for a very versatile vacuum. When removed, the vacuum lies completely flat, and you can get it under your bed and couches with ease. This also makes stairs much easier, because you can also remove the handle at the top and attach accessories, or even remove the long wand from the brush base and attach an accessory to get to high places (or in the little nooks and crannies on the floor) without ever having to bend down.
Some Pros:
- Pet Brush: the pet brush included in this works better than any I’ve ever used – my couch has never been this hair-free.
- Rotating Head: Much easier to maneuver, as the head rotates with the flick of a wrist.
- Settings: three settings on the handle – low pile carpet, high pile carpet, and hard floors.
- Canister Mode: removing the dust bin/motor and placing it on the included caddy essentially turns this model into an old-school canister. I like this mode because the caddy stores all but one of the accessories (the hard floor cleaner with dusting pad- which I literally never use). The downside- takes up more space …
Some Cons:
- Heavy: this vacuum is pretty heavy compared to the Navigator it replaced. If you’re elderly or have mobility issues, I’d recommend the Shark Rotator Speed instead due to its smaller size.
- It Pulls You: I’m not kidding. This vacuum is so strong, it literally pulls you. This is less of a hassle when you’ve got the dust bin attached, but when you remove it, it’s like pulling a crazed dog on a leash.
- Tips Over Easily: the vacuum tips over very easily if you’re in Lift Away mode when the dust bin is off. If you’re going to do the stairs, under the couch, or any situation where the vacuum is not ‘fully assembled’ in normal mode, do yourself a favor and remove the bin from the base.
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Black + Decker is a well-known and trusted brand when it comes to household appliances, and this handy little vacuum is no different! This handheld vacuum can easily be used on a variety of surfaces and removes pet hair, dirt, and debris effortlessly.
Because it uses lithium technology, the Black + Decker also gives you stronger suction than a normal cordless or handheld vacuum, making it great for sucking up cat litter. In addition to its strength, it has a large, wide mouth, which makes picking up bigger clumps of cat litter a breeze.
This vacuum is lightweight, portable, and versatile. In fact, the vacuum comes with both a crevice tool for those hard-to-reach areas and a brush attachment to help remove pet hair from furniture and other upholstery.
Too much dust can damage the inside of a regular vacuum, but the Black + Decker uses cyclonic action to pull dust and debris away from the delicate filter. So, you can rest assured that the filter will hold up against cat litter.
The dirt bowl can hold up to 31.8 ounces of dirt and is easy to empty and clean. It does, however, need to be emptied more frequently than a larger, standing vacuum. We love this little vacuum for its versatility and its overall affordability.
Amazon reviewer Hannah, who uses her Black & Decker to vacuum up cat litter, discovered an important tip about charging the battery:
I’ve only had this product a few days, but so far it’s great. It has good suction and comes with two attachments (a brush and a crevice tool). The wall mount is really convenient too (you do need a drill to install it). I have limited counter space in my house, so getting it off surfaces really helps declutter.
I bought this to replace a different model of Black+Decker handheld vacuum that would only have full suction for a few seconds after charging (after only one year of use). After doing research, I found that the problem lie in the battery.
I kept my vacuum continuously plugged in, but apparently that is bad for the battery and causes the problem I was having. So for this vacuum I only charge if 3-6 hours after use then I unplug it. This one charges quickly and I haven’t had a problem.
It is super easy to empty and clean and so far I have loved it. I have used it to pick up spills, dirt piles from sweeping, kitty litter around the litter box, and dust on the baseboards …
Pros:
• It can be used on a variety of surfaces
• Portable
• Lightweight
• Stronger suction
• Crevice and brush tools included
• Wider mouth
• Affordable
Cons:
• Needs to be emptied more frequently than larger vacuums
BISSELL 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Vacuum
BISSELL 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum
If you don’t know about the beauty that is Bissell, you’re in for a treat. The Bissell 2252 is one of the most spectacular pet vacuums on the market – and for an affordable price! This powerful pet hair vacuum includes a triple-action roller brush that is guaranteed to pick up any and all pet hair in your home.
Not only is it great for sucking up hair, but it also has scatter-free technology, which means that no matter how much cat litter you’re picking up, you can be sure that it won’t come spilling out again.
The 2252 is easy to maneuver and has swivel steering to help you pick up dirt and debris around furniture and corners. It is also designed for easy edge cleaning, and its 13.5 inches of cleaning width can pick up messes in hard-to-reach places like baseboards, corners, or furniture edges.
The dirt cup has a capacity of 34 ounces and is easy to clean. The Bissell 2252 also includes dedicated attachments for pet hair and other messes your pet may create. With a 6-foot-long cord, you can also ensure hassle-free cleaning.
And a special about purchasing a Bissell is that it can help to save homeless pets. With every pet product that is purchased and activated, Bissell donates up to $10 to the Bissell pet foundation.
Amazon reviewer Terry in SA, who has 6 cats and 3 dogs, says this Bissell is great for pet owner, especially for the price:
This Bissell is lightweight but it has a very wide brush roller so it takes less time to vacuum. The brush roller is fantastic for picking up pet hair. Seriously fantastic. But not just pet hair – it does an excellent job of picking up fine dust and dirt – something the Shark isn’t great at. The plastic casing around the brush roller is clear, too, so you can easily see if you have a lot of hair or fibers wrapped around it.
This vacuum also swivels very easily so it’s much easier to vacuum around furniture. It maneuvers almost effortlessly.
The dustbin is clear and has a HUGE capacity. You can easily see when it’s full and just detach it with the press of a button, carry it to the trash can, press another button and it empties from the bottom. Your hands never touch the contents. It also opens from the top to clear any clogs there or to clean/change the filter.
There is a height adjustment knob that allows you to select from 5 different height settings and it works equally well on carpeting and hard flooring. I like this better than the automatic height adjustment on my other vac because that never works as well in my experience …
…. I also love that the power button is bright red and can be pressed with your foot. It’s easy to distinguish from the other buttons.
You get 5 attachments and hallelujah, they all store onboard. Attachments are only useful if you can find them when you need them so I love onboard storage …
You do have to remove 6 screws to take the brush roller out for clearing away hair that wraps around it and to change the belt. I wish it had a hinged door instead, like another vac I have because I have several long-haired family members so I must perform this task fairly often.
Other than that minor disappointment, I definitely recommend this vac – especially for households with pets ….
Pros:
• Helps homeless pets
• Powerful hair pickup
• Scatter-free technology
• Easy to maneuver using swivel steering
• Easy edge cleaning
• Dirt cup is easy to clean
• Long cord
• Includes dedicated pet attachments
Cons:
• Not cordless
• Dirt Devil Razor Pet Upright Vacuum (UD70355B) – https://www.amazon.com/Dirt-Devil-Bagless-Steering-UD70355B/dp/B06X978P7W/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li2&tag=vacuumrevi-20&linkId=0d8cf4e9f00bfa32472948c4640b85fa&language=en_US
The Dirt Devil is another one of our favorite upright vacuums that have been designed with pet owners in mind. One of the Devil’s best features is its 180-degree swivel motion, which makes it easy to reach tricky spots like underneath furniture and against edges and corners.
Its consistent suction works on multiple surfaces, and it even has automatic floor height adjustment. So, no matter if your home is carpeted or fitted with wooden flooring, the Devil will work its magic anywhere!
To give your pet vacuum a longer vacuum life, the Devil comes with a rinsible filter. This is great for cat litter because you can simply rinse away any litter that has become lodged or stuck to the filter.
This vacuum comes with an extension wand to help you reach tall surfaces and can give you up to 10 feet of extra reach. This is great if your cat enjoys taking their afternoon nap in hard-to-reach areas!
In addition to the rinsible filter, the Devil also has a filter that naturally traps smells and keeps your vacuum – and your home – odor-free. This is great for when you need to pick up particularly smelly cat litter.
The Dirt Devil also comes with a TurboClaw pet hair tool, which helps to dislodge pet hair and dried cat litter from difficult surfaces like furniture and carpets. The Turbo tool also allows the hair to be picked up more easily without scattering loose hairs.
Pros:
• 180-degree swivel capability
• Consistent suction on all surfaces
• Multi-surface cleaning capabilities
• Rinsible filter
• Odor-trapping filter
• Automatic floor height adjustment
• TurboClaw pet tool
• Extension wand
Cons:
• Not cordless
Eureka RapidClean Pro Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Eureka RapidClean Pro Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka RapidClean is a great stick vacuum cleaner that works for all sorts of tough-to-clean pet messes. With up to 40 minutes of runtime, this cordless vacuum is lightweight and easy to use in every room of the house.
With fingertip controls, you can also switch the vacuum to its max power setting to increase the suction strength for better and more efficient cleaning of rugs and carpets.
Because the dust cup sits higher up on the vacuum, it is also great for using under furniture or in tight spots. With LED lights on the vacuum’s head, you can be sure that you’ll be able to pick up every last grain of litter and every stray hair Fluffy has left behind.
Life can get busy sometimes, and cleaning can be time-consuming. Eureka’s easy rest feature allows you to effortlessly prop the vacuum up using its built-in rest nook.
The cyclonic filtration system will also pull the dirt, debris, and pet hair away from the filter to keep your vacuum in tip-top shape – even when you’re dealing with the messiest of pets!
The Eureka can also be used as a superb handheld vacuum, complete with versatile attachments to keep every surface of your home dirt-free. The dust cup mechanics mean that it’s easy to clean without getting your hands dirty, making cleanup hassle and worry-free.
While the Eureka can be used on multiple surfaces, it is best when used on low-density carpeting. We would recommend using the Eureka on hard flooring like wood, vinyl, or tiles and avoiding thick rugs or carpets to ensure that it works smoothly.
Although this may be a small drawback, we find that its superior features can easily make up for it. Plus, the Eureka comes with an attachable wall-mount for easy charging and space-saving storage ability!
Amazon reviewer Todd D. was impressed by how lightweight, yet powerful the Eureka RapidClean was:
My wife was going out of town and asked my to keep the house clean. Well, I’m lazy. She has 2 cats and I have a small dog. It is summer and they are shedding and loosing hair. You can see the clumps on the floor and hairs everywhere. I don’t feel like lugging the regular vacuum out-unwinding cord-plugging in-and moving the plug from room to room … So I finally decided on the Eureka…
It arrived, was very easy to assemble….if you can read this you can assemble. My house is wood floors, throw rugs, carpet, rubber pad in front of cat litter. I included pics of all my flooring. I mounted holder to wall, charged and tried it out a few times. It was wonderful! So I waited 3 days to try again. As you can see in pics, this thing picks up like crazy! I don’t expect to due major cleaning or whole house detailing, I wanted something that would enable me to quickly grab/vacuum from room to room to get the majority of seen hair/cat littler/derbis ect. In the pic you can see how much I picked up in 8 minutes! enough to make a great difference! This picks up hair on carpet, hardwood floors and cat litter in front of cat box on the mat without shooting it all over! …
Pros:
• Cordless
• Simple digital fingertip controls
• Good for most surfaces
• Up to 40 minutes of fade-free running time
• Built-in rest nook
• Good for reaching underneath furniture or against furniture edges
• LED lights on the head of the vacuum
• Cyclonic filtration system
• Easy to clean
• Easy to transform into a handheld vacuum
Cons:
• It may not be as effective on high-density rugs or carpets
How Do You Get Cat Litter Out Of A Vacuum?
As you can imagine, it can be both annoying and kinda gross to clean up litter that gets stuck in your vacuum cleaner. You may even need to take it apart and gently remove all of the cat litter from every nook and cranny of your vacuum by hand.
Small amounts of cat litter can easily be discarded from your vacuum in the same manner that you would discard dirt and other debris. But, if you use your vacuum to suck up too much cat litter, or you use it on the litter too frequently, you may have to deal with bigger problems than just cleaning out your vacuum cleaner.
Regular household vacuums have small, delicate parts that can become damaged over time. This is because cat litter is often sharp and can become lodged in the inner mechanics of your vacuum. Once these parts are damaged, your vacuum may quit working altogether, and you might have to either go out and buy a new one or spend almost as much money getting your it fixed.
Similarly, some cat litters may clump when exposed to moisture. When the litter clumps, it can also clog up your vacuum. After a while, a regular vacuum may also start to smell.
If you’re like me and are getting the heebie-jeebies just reading about this, let’s
So, instead of using a regular vacuum, it’s always in your best interest to invest in a vacuum designed for pets.
How Do You Get Dried Cat Litter Out Of Carpet?
Even the cleanest of cats can make a mess sometimes. Whether they have tracked cat litter onto your carpet after using the bathroom, have accidentally kicked some out of their litter box, or are one of those cats who gets a thrill out of kicking their litter everywhere, it’s up to you to clean it up. And, if it’s on your carpet, it may seem even more challenging.
Luckily, dried litter is much easier to get out of your carpet than wet litter. All you need to do is use a brush to dislodge the litter from the carpet fibers and vacuum it up – it’s that simple.
How To Choose The Best Vacuum For Cat Litter
A standard vacuum may not be able to pick up cat litter and can make it difficult to remove clay particles without ruining your vacuum entirely. So, how do you choose the best vacuum for cat litter removal?
Well, there are a few features you may want to pay close attention to when selecting your vacuum, including the suction power, the filtration system, its ability to work on multiple surfaces, and its ability to trap odor or allow for easy bowl and filter cleaning.
- Suction Power — The stronger the vacuum’s suction, the better it is at gobbling up those troublesome clumps of debris and dust particles. Moreover, the vacuum’s powerful suction ability allows it to suck up hair and dust from thick carpeting, making your handheld vacuum multifunctional.
- Filtration System — You’ll also need a vacuum that separates dust from the air to keep the clay from getting stuck in the filtration system, thereby shortening the lifespan of your Hoover.
- Multiple Surface Use — Vacuum cleaners generally come with a variety of connections that allow them to work on a number of surfaces. When you’re looking for a vacuum that is good for cat litter, you should aim to find one that works on different sorts of floors, not just the one where your cat box is.
- Easy to clean — We all know how much cat litter can stink, so you’ll also want to choose a vacuum that’s easy to clean. This will keep it from stinking and will help your vacuum last longer.