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Others tested
Photography: Molly Higgins
Tineco Go Pet Cordless Vacuum for $176: Like when I tested the Tineco Go Mini ($130) for my hand vacuum cleaners guide, I was a little disappointed with this vacuum cleaner specifically for pets. It has a slot for easily removing the brush if hair gets stuck around the bars, which is helpful when you’re dealing with pet (and human) hair. The lever and angle of the lid for emptying are counterintuitive, and the first few times I emptied it, debris went everywhere. It’s difficult to distinguish between eco and electric modes, and the vacuum cleaner flashed red and the brush stopped spinning when transitioning between surfaces. (It especially struggled on my thin treadmill.) It also felt a bit heavier and bulkier than the others. But it has handy lights to illuminate debris and comes with accessories to make hand-held cleaning easier.
Photography: Molly Higgins
Mova P50 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum for $589: This robot vacuum-mop combo features an extendable side brush and mop pads to reach tight corners, an auto-empty dock that empties dust and debris, and self-cleaning, dry mop pads. It also uses an RGB camera and an “intelligent dirt detection system” whose sensors identify messes to clean thoroughly and avoid objects on the floor. The robovac generates 3D maps of your home and identifies items like furniture and even pets. Through the app you can personalize cleanings, and there’s also synchronized video and voice interaction so you can talk to your pets, schedule cleanings, and more, and it’s compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart home devices. When first mapping my small apartment, the vacuum didn’t want to go past certain rooms and it took several days to create a complete cleaning map. He has difficulty crossing small thresholds, ultimately avoiding cleaning rooms completely, and has thrown himself off my stairs twice, dropping mop pads. Despite its intelligent object detection, it still often tried to vacuum up or roll small objects off the ground, like shoes and pet toys. I love that this vacuum-mop combo self-cleans and empties, but for almost $1,000, I wish the smart features were smarter and the mapping was more precise.
Dyson Handheld Car and Boat Vacuum for $250: Former WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar liked this handheld vacuum, designed specifically for vacuuming dirt and debris from your car and boat, as well as bedding, furniture, and other hard-to-reach spaces. (Read our full review here).
Hoover HL4 Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner for £130: Although only available in the UK, the Hoover HL4 managed to remove a lot of cat hair from my home. I live with a trio of cats, two of whom are long-haired, so a powerful vacuum cleaner is essential. The HL4 is unfortunately corded (7.6 meters), but at around 240 air watts, it was powerful enough to lift dust and hair that my lightweight cordless vacuum and robot vacuum had missed. The smart design easily converts into a portable vacuum and comes with a pet tool and crevice tool. The pet tool proved effective at lifting hair from the couch, stairs, and cat beds, although it didn’t really have the power to remove every strand. There is a convenient vent to reduce suction from rugs and blankets. The 1.2 liter bin is easy to remove and empty, but not without releasing a cloud of dust, and the Anti-Twist floor head seems to collect far less tangled hair than other vacuums. —Simon Hill
Not recommended
Photography: Molly Higgins
Eufy RoboVac 11S Max for $150: Our esteemed competitors at places like The Strategist and Wirecutter loved this cheap robovac, so I bought myself one before moving into my new apartment with two cats. And I must say that I do not agree with them. Yes, this robovac is significantly cheaper than most and generally has good ratings, but I don’t have anything nice to say about it other than it’s able to get under furniture and vacuum up pet hair that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. Its navigation system is hit or miss, it doesn’t have an app (but it comes with a remote to direct it to a specific location or schedule cleanings), it’s noisy, and it tends to be attracted to cords. He has extreme difficulty crossing even minor height differences, such as the small wooden panel between the hallway and the bathroom door. But most importantly, it’s unnecessarily difficult to empty the trash can and almost impossible to detangle all the hair and fur from the bar or brush spinning underneath. There are coarse hairs that will probably still be wrapped around the mechanism until the day I am put into the ground. This cursed thing will outlive us all, I fear.
I’ve tested these pet hair vacuums for a week or more (I’ve been using both the Dyson cordless and the handheld for months now), and I’ve used them on almost every surface in my house, including cat trees and behind my two cats. litter box. When testing began, I lived in a large house with three cats and a dog (more hair in a larger area), and during the second half of testing I lived with two cats in a small apartment (slightly less hair in a smaller area with fewer places for the hair to hide).
I also tested each accessory on problem areas such as carpeted stairs, air vent crevices, shag carpet, and hardwood floors. Not all pet hair vacuums are created equal, and their effectiveness varies greatly on different surfaces and with different attachments. I installed them, charged them, and vacuumed with them until they died, noting the run time, power, efficiency, and ease of emptying the bin and cleaning the filter.
It seems that many brands will slap the words “pet hair” on a product and market it as such without really explaining why or how it is effective against pet hair. Of course, I tested them to see if they put their metaphorical mouths where their money was. On the other hand, I’ve also tested some that were highly rated for overall effectiveness, but not marketed to pets, such as Roborock Saros 10Ran expensive robovac that uses AI mapping and can identify nearby animals and silence its engine.
Speaking of which, vacuum cleaners and pets are inherently antithetical. Vacuum cleaners are a necessary evil when it comes to dealing with pet hair, but your pets will probably be afraid of them. If my cat Basil had opposable thumbs, I know he would leave hateful comments on this article. Aside from the Robovac choices (which for some reason my cats don’t mind), my cat Basil had a mild cardiac event every time I tested the other vacuums on this list. So, in addition to efficiency and suction, I also took into account the sound volume, as well as the ease of handling of the product.
However, in general, when shopping for a pet hair vacuum, look for suction power, bin capacity, attachments, and type of bristle or Motorbar – determine what will do the actual picking up of dust, dander, and pet hair. I found that the tapered bars like those on some Dyson models work well to keep from tangling, and the dual brushes like on the Ryobi work together to effectively pick up more. Also read reviews from real people with real furry animals, but know that no two animals are the same. Consider the type of disposal you live with and the type of space you need to clean; a robovac may not be the best choice for a home with multiple flights of carpeted stairs.
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