8 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter (2023) — Reviews & Top Picks

Owning a cat means putting up with the smell of a cat litter box — and dealing with a cat litter mess on the floor. Luckily, cat litter doesn’t pose more of a threat than a good vacuum cleaner can take on. The question is, what kind of vacuum cleaner is the best for cat litter control? The truth is that most vacuum cleaners can pick cat litter up. It’s just that some aren’t as good at the job as others.

Taking care of a cat is a big responsibility, so you deserve an easy litter cleanup experience whenever it’s time to tend to the cat box. So, we’ve decided to test out the most talked-about vacuums that are available, to see which does the best at keeping cat litter off the floor. We’ve created a list of reviews that outline all the pros and cons of the best vacuums for cat litter on the market. Read on to learn more!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

The 8 Best Vacuums for Cat Litter

1. Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum Cleaner — Best Overall

With the Roborock E4 Robot, you will never have to manually clean cat litter up again. This vacuum has a built-in navigation system so you can program it to clean up the entire area around your cat litter box. All you have to do is turn the vacuum on when it’s time to clean up. This vacuum works well on hardwoods, tile, and carpeting, so it doesn’t matter where your litter box is located.

Featuring a long-lasting battery, you can clean more than 2,000 square feet worth of space before having to recharge the vacuum. It also has a large-capacity debris bin, so you won’t have to worry about cleaning the bin out between every cat litter cleaning. One of the coolest things about this vacuum is that it features voice and app control functionality.

You can turn the machine on and off, set the suction strength, and even schedule vacuuming times for when you aren’t home so you don’t have to listen to it running. The only downside is that it isn’t built with a handle, so you can’t physically control the vacuum as you could with an upright or canister vacuum.

All in all, this is the best robot vacuum for cat litter.

2. Bissell Handheld Vacuum — Best Value

We think that the Bissell 33A1 is the best vacuum for cat litter for the money because it’s affordable, effective, and easy to use. It’s small and handheld but powerful and can be used on a variety of surfaces. So, you can use it to clean cat litter up in the house, get cat hair off your furniture, and spiff up the interior of your vehicle when necessary. You can even clean messes in the kitchen!

The specialty nozzle actually attracts cat hair and pulls it out of upholstery. So, it’s easy to imagine how well it can pick up cat litter. The model features a multi-layer filtration system so you don’t have to worry about dander and other allergens getting released into the room while you vacuum. This is a bagless vacuum option, though, and the dustbin isn’t big. Therefore, you may have to empty it after every use. The vacuum is corded, so your litter box shouldn’t be located too far away from a power outlet.

3. ILIFE V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner — Best Robotic

The ILIFE V3s Pro Robot is an excellent choice for those who need to clean cat litter and hair up every day. You can program this machine to clean up daily without any physical help from you, which means that you can always have peace of mind in knowing that you’re coming home to a litter- and hair-free space that’s comfortable and smells good. Featuring a low-profile design, this thing can go many places that a typical upright can’t, like under the bed.

It comes with a remote control for hands-free vacuuming when you’re at home. With smart sensors in place, this vacuum won’t bump into and scratch your furniture. The filter does need to be replaced once a month, and the small bin should be cleaned after each use, which can be a little inconvenient, especially when you’re short on time.

To conclude, when it comes to premium picks, this is the best vacuum for cat litter out there.

4. BLACK+DECKER Handheld Cat Litter Vacuum

This Black and Decker handheld vacuum is small but powerful enough to pick several ounces of cat litter up at a time. The miniature nozzle will suck litter up from around the base of your litter box so it doesn’t spread to other areas of your home. But the nozzle is also wide enough to pick up larger pieces of debris when necessary, as well as cat hair that might be found around the house at any given time.

The lithium battery holds up to 10 hours of energy when fully charged. The lightweight design makes it easy for anyone, even kids, to complete a quick cleanup around the litter box. Both the dustbin and filter are washable, so there is no need to worry about replacement parts on a regular basis. But don’t expect this thing to clean your home’s entire floor space because it’s simply too small to do so. You’ll need a different vacuum for larger cleaning jobs.

5. Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum

This upright vacuum was designed specifically to clean pet messes up, and it does an excellent job with cat litter. But cat litter isn’t all the Shark Rotator TruePet vacuum can tackle. This thing will clean up everything from shed hair and spilled cat food to dust and dander as it glides over your home’s floors. The included HEPA filter traps dust and allergens while vacuuming, so you’re left with a truly clean home after vacuuming.

The Shark Rotator TruePet vacuum also features a handy crevice tool that can be used to get cat litter out of corners and from under throw rugs. The canister of this vacuum can be removed for easy cleaning in tight spaces. But this is one of the biggest and clunkiest models on our reviews list, so it may not be the right choice if you live in tight quarters.

6. Eureka Blaze 3-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner

This is a lightweight vacuum that looks like an upright but functions as a handheld. It weighs only 4 pounds and features three-in-one functionality to make cleaning easier than ever, especially when it comes to vacuuming cat litter in nooks and crannies. The head can be detached from the body for cleaning under tables, on stairs, and in corners. The Eureka Blaze Vacuum also features swivel steering to ensure that no corner or crevice is left untouched.

The Eureka Blaze 3-in-1 Vacuum can clean cat litter up and whole pieces of cat food up with no problem. It can also clean spider webs and dust out of corners. But it likely won’t get the cat hair out of your upholstery, like other options on our list can.

7. SUPERLEX Rechargeable Handheld Vacuum

If you’re looking for a no-frills vacuum option to tackle your cat litter problem, the SUPERLEX rechargeable handheld vacuum shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s small and lightweight, so it doesn’t pick much debris up at one time. But it should be big enough to keep the space around your cat litter box clean! This vacuum isn’t designed just for cat litter. It’s meant for general home and vehicle use. So, you can expect it to come in handy on many occasions over the years.

The included dust cup is easy to empty, and the mesh filter that covers the interior HEPA filter can be hand-washed between uses. This is a cordless option that holds only about 30 minutes of usable power after each recharge. So, you’ll likely have to keep it charged between uses to ensure that it’s always available for use when necessary.

8. MOOSOO 4-in-1 Stick Vacuum

This sleek vacuum offers powerful suction, effortless maneuverability, and a cool LED light that makes it easy to see all the cat litter that you’re trying to clean up. The arm of the vacuum extends from 19 to 31 inches, and the base of the machine can be turned into a handheld vacuum when you need to work in tight spaces. The MOOSOO 4-in-1 Stick Vacuum also features HEPA filtration, which will help visitors who might have cat allergies.

The system is a bit complicated, and it can take several minutes to adjust the vacuum from upright to handheld use and vice versa. This vacuum probably can’t completely replace a hardier version that you might currently use for whole-floor cleaning.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Vacuum for Cat Litter

It can feel confusing when it comes time to choose a new vacuum that can effectively pick up all the cat litter that escapes your litter box. What kind of features should you be looking for? Is a bag or bagless option better? What if the vacuum doesn’t work as expected? This buyer’s guide should help answer your questions and make the process of choosing a new vacuum for cat litter more enjoyable.

Deciding What Features to Look For

The first thing you should do is make a list of features that you want to see in your new vacuum. Will you only be using it to clean up cat litter, or would you like to use it for other spills and messes? If the vacuum is strictly for cat litter, you don’t need anything more than powerful suction and handheld functionality. But if you want to clean your overall house up with it, you may enjoy other features like automatic controls and a large debris bin.

Take the time to think about all the tasks that you expect your new vacuum to do, and imagine what features would make those tasks easier. For example, a crevice tool would make getting rid of cobwebs and dusting under the couch easy. List all the features you can think of, and use your list as a guide when comparing vacuums to one another.

Consider What You Don’t Like About Your Current Vacuum

If you are already using a vacuum to clean cat litter up, there must be some things you don’t like about its performance or you wouldn’t be looking to buy a new one. So, consider all the things about your current vacuum that don’t impress you. Maybe you don’t like the way that the debris bin connects to the machine. Or maybe you aren’t thrilled with the fact that your upright can’t be converted into a handheld, like many of the options on our reviews list can. Make a note of the stuff that you don’t like to help ensure that you avoid those functions and features when choosing a new vacuum.

Choose an Option With a Removeable HEPA Filter

If you need to clean cat litter up in your home, chances are that there is plenty of cat dander, hair, and debris that also needs to be cleaned up. Choosing a new vacuum with a HEPA filter will help ensure that the vacuum doesn’t blow dirty air back into your home while it’s supposed to be getting cleaned. HEPA filters trap pollutants and minimize the presence of allergens inside the home.

A HEPA filter should keep cat litter dust from being released into the air when you vacuum. Your new vacuum’s HEPA filter should also be removable, so it can be cleaned and replaced once in a while. A HEPA filter that’s filled with debris won’t do you any good in the long run.

• Related Read: Best Cat Shampoo for Dandruff: Reviews & Top Picks 

Pay Attention to Customer Reviews

Whether you consider buying an option, it’s always a good idea to read at least a handful of reviews that other customers have left. Everyone has different experiences, so you’re sure to gain unique insight into any vacuum you’re considering.

Pay attention to what others have to say about performance and handling instead of things like shipping and packaging, as these things won’t affect your experience with the actual vacuum. Don’t just check out the star ratings for a product. People sometimes rate products low due to a problem with the store that they buy from or another reason than the performance of the product they purchase.

Conclusion: Best Vacuum For Cat Litter

We love all the cat litter vacuums on our list and think that any of them can get the job done quickly and easily. We highly recommend the number-one pick, the Roborock E4 robot vacuum, because it will save you time and keep your house clean when you aren’t even there. We also think the Bissell 33A1 vacuum is worth consideration because it’s lightweight and offers an easy-to-use interface without sacrificing performance.

But any one on our list should meet your needs and expectations when it comes to vacuuming cat litter. It’s all the other jobs you want your new vacuum to do that should be seriously considered when choosing an option to invest in. Let us know what your favorite vacuum for cat litter is in the comments section below!

Featured Image Credit: one photo, Shutterstock