The pet owner agreement encompasses specific terms and conditions, including an acceptance of ever-present pet hair. It also entails managing stains, fretting over your pet’s activities in your absence, and the rare possibility of returning home to a mess on the floor. The ideal vacuum for pet owners can assist with these concerns. I have dedicated years to evaluating vacuums, much to my cats’ dismay.
While each pet owner requires a vacuum for pet hair, certain vacuums can tackle additional pet-related chores. There exist robot vacuums that can steer clear of pet waste, robot vacuums equipped with livestream pet cameras, and a robot vacuum paired with its own portable carpet cleaner. Now we just need Roborock to enhance the Saros Z70’s robotic arm functions to pick up pet toys.
So, which vacuum would be the most beneficial for your household? I am constantly testing the leading robot vacuums and cordless stick vacuums in my two-cat apartment, and I’m poised to identify the top vacuums for pet owners.
How to select a robot vacuum for pet hair
Suction strength and brush rolls
I suggest vacuums with a minimum of 6,000 Pa suction strength for efficient pet hair collection, although homes with heavy carpeting and over two pets should aim for at least 12,000 Pa suction power. The brush roll mechanism is also crucial when selecting a vacuum for pet fur. My tests show that vacuums featuring dual brush rolls are significantly more effective.
I also advise keeping a robust cordless stick vacuum on hand — stick vacuums typically boast greater power than robot vacuums. Brands like Shark, Dyson, and Dreame produce highly effective stick vacuums that can make pet hair vanish.
Automatic disposal
Pet owners ought to choose a self-emptying robot vacuum — the vast amount of fur being collected will fill the dustbin quickly, and you won’t want to empty it daily. Even with everyday use, an auto-empty robot vacuum might last from one to three months before the dustbin requires emptying.
Mopping
If hardwood or tile surfaces dominate your home, the finest robot vacuum and mop combination for pet hair will disinfect the flooring while mopping and subsequently clean its own mops to remove any leftover hair. Mopping is also more likely to effectively clear away other minor pet-related debris, such as pet dander and kitty litter dust, which are too tiny to be captured by a vacuum’s suction power.
Intelligent mapping
Certain rooms or areas on the floor accumulate fur more than others. A smart mapping robot vacuum understands your home’s layout and can go to designated zones on request, which you can queue via the app. In my view, smart mapping is the most valuable feature of a robot vacuum and should be a standard even when looking for an economical model — cleaning effectiveness is irrelevant if the vacuum can’t reach where it needs to go.
Small obstacle detection
Some sophisticated robot vacuums utilize cameras and 3D sensors to identify minor obstructions in their cleaning path. When successful, these vacuums avoid consuming most pet toys, cables, laundry, or socks and shoes, steer clear of pet bowls, and dodge pet waste.
Other robot vacuums I tested recently
I evaluated several other leading robot vacuums in the past that did not make the latest list. Some, such as the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various models of the Roomba j7, were once my top picks but have since been eclipsed by newer, more powerful models that provide superior value. I recently assessed the Roomba Plus 505 Combo and Plus 405 Combo with commendable performance, although they ultimately weren’t the most efficient vacuum cleaners in their price category. The Dreame X50 Ultra caught attention at its CES 2025 launch for its ability to “climb,” but it cannot navigate thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (approximately 2.36 inches). This limitation is not very advantageous for scenarios beyond possibly traversing sliding door tracks, and its cleaning performance was nothing I haven’t encountered with other flagship robot vacuums.
Vacuums I will be testing soon
The upcoming vacuums scheduled for at-home testing include the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller (followed by additional new Dreame robot vacuums), Roomba 705 Max Combo, Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai, and Bissell FurFinder. I will acquire these as soon as possible and will update my top recommendations for pet owners accordingly.