11 Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners For Pet Hair

Reviews

Best Overall: iRobot Roomba i7+
 

My top selection for the best robot vacuum for pet hair is iRobot’s Roomba, the original robot vacuum. This is a high-end vacuum that does almost everything well.

This model is the most expensive on my list, costing around $800, but it offers a desirable array of features and strengths that make it a sensible pick for anyone willing to spend the money.

It’s an especially wonderful solution for carpeted houses with a lot of pet hair. The fact that this model is self-emptying is what really sets it apart.

This capability was not available on any other robot vacuum I tried, and it was a game changer in terms of maintenance. When the dustbin on the Roomba fills up, it returns to the charging dock to be emptied.

The vacuum cleaner empties into a reusable bag that only needs to be emptied every 60 days or so. This characteristic alone distinguishes the Roomba from other versions on the market.

The smartphone app is another essential feature that puts the iRobot Roomba i7 at the top of my list. You can set up certain rooms and block off no-go zones where you don’t want the vacuum to go using the Roomba app.

You can also make your own cleaning routine. In terms of performance, the iRobot Roomba i7 did an excellent job of removing cat hair from carpet.

This model has a Spot Clean feature that allows you to run the vacuum in circles around a specified area – this is an excellent feature to have if your cat spends a lot of time in one spot and for scooping up litter near the litter box.

In addition, instead of a bristle brushroll, it includes a tangle-free rubber roller brush. There aren’t many drawbacks to this vacuum.

It didn’t take up cat litter or pet hair as well as most robot vacuums, but it still performed admirably. The primary disadvantage is the over $800 price tag.

Pros

• When full, it automatically returns to the base for self-emptying.
• A strong suction pulls cat hair from a variety of surfaces.
• Intelligent and consistent performance
• A convenient smartphone app allows you to control the device.

Cons

• It is rather pricey, costing roughly $800.
• It is possible that litter will not be cleaned as well as pet hair.

 

Samsung POWERbot R7070 came in second
 

This isn’t one of the cheapest vacuums on the market, but it has good suction and a terrific smartphone app.

According to Samsung, this model boasts 40x more suction power than comparable circular-shaped robot vacuums. It removes debris from air in order to keep the motor working smoothly.

It includes an automated rubber blade that extends to capture dirt along the wall’s edges and in corners. An inbuilt camera and various sensors assist the vacuum in determining the best cleaning path while avoiding obstructions.

The coverage map on the smartphone app shows how much of the house the POWERbot has cleaned and where it may have missed.

Because the bot is WiFi enabled, you may control it remotely using your smartphone app or voice commands with smart devices such as Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant. You can program automatic cleaning.

When the robot’s battery runs low, it returns to a docking station to recharge. Once charged, the POWERbot returns to work and completes the task.

Unfortunately, this robot vacuum’s sensors aren’t ideal. Dark objects may be detected by the cliff sensor or may not be detected at all. According to one reviewer, the bot pushed their black bar stool across the room blindly.

Because it’s a small bot with a dustbin capacity of roughly 300 ml, it’s best suited for households with one or two cats and not a lot of long hair. You may find yourself emptying the bin regularly in multi-pet households.

Pros

• Intelligent navigation system
• The self-cleaning brush eliminates tangling and wrapping.
• Suction is strong on a variety of surfaces.
• Smartphone app that works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Cons

• Only around 300ml of trash capacity
• Emptying the trash can is a little difficult/messy.
• Sensors have difficulty distinguishing dark objects.

 

Neato Botvac D7 Connected is the best vacuum for large homes
 

Though I named this model the best for large houses, I couldn’t decide between it and the Samsung POWERbot for runner-up because they both provide outstanding performance and great features.

This robot vacuum is distinguished by its unusual D-shape, which enables it to reach into corners where regular vacuums cannot. You know how useful this trait is if you’ve ever seen how pet hair tends to wander around and settle in corners.

The Neato Botvac has excellent suction and worked admirably in my fur test. It also performed the best of the vacuums I tried against cat litter.

Another aspect I appreciated about this vacuum was its large dustbin capacity. The dustbin has a capacity of 700ml, allowing you to go several days without needing to empty it.

Emptying the dustbin is simple, and it doesn’t make as much of a mess as the POWERbot. Overall, I was blown away by the Neato Botvac.

It worked effectively against both cat hair and cat litter, and I didn’t see much cat hair building in the rollers after running it for 30 days.

This vacuum has a lengthy battery life of roughly 150 minutes and automatically returns to the base to recharge itself when it runs out of juice.

Despite the fact that this model is extremely popular, some buyers were concerned about connectivity troubles. Connectivity troubles plague most robot vacuums on the market, but the Neato Botvac appeared to struggle more than some versions.

Pros

• Suction power and a huge trash capacity
• A fantastic navigation system
• On a single charge, it can run for up to 150 minutes.
• Intuitive and extremely handy smartphone app

Cons

• Some customers have complained about connection problems.

 

Ecovacs DEEBOT 500 is the best budget option
 

If you want a robot vacuum for pet hair but don’t want to spend $500 or more, the Ecovacs DEEBOT 500 is a fantastic choice.

This vacuum costs less than $200 yet has good performance, a lengthy run time of 110 minutes, and a smartphone app. The Ecovacs app is simple to use and intuitive, with most of the capabilities I’d expect from a robot vacuum app.

You can’t make rooms or define borders, but it still works nicely. This device can also be used with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, a remote control, or a smartphone app.

The Ecovacs DEEBOT 500 performed admirably in tests on a variety of floor types, including high-pile rugs. This robot vacuum did an excellent job of cleaning cat fur, especially after a few of runs over the area.

The main disadvantage of this type is that it uses a standard brush roller rather than a rubber brush roller. As expected, more hair wrapped around the brush than I found with other models, but this shouldn’t be an issue for a short-haired cat.

Another issue I discovered was that it got stuck more frequently than some of the more expensive ones. It might occasionally become stuck around the house or have difficulty returning to the base.

Though there are a few drawbacks, the Ecovacs DEEBOT 500 boasts a large 500ml dustbin and a 110-minute battery life. It’s also one of my list’s quietest vacuums.

Pros

• Budget-friendly (less $200)
• Better app than some less expensive vacuums
• Suction is relatively strong, and performance is adequate.
• One of the most silent robot vacuums tested

Cons

• The navigation system may be improved.
• Hair may build on a brush roller.

 

bObsweep PetHair Plus is the best mopping vacuum
 

The bObsweep PetHair Plus, which is specifically developed for use in pet-friendly households, has various characteristics that set it apart from the competitors.

For starters, it functions as both a vacuum and a mop for hard floors. In addition to tremendous suction on a variety of surfaces, a wet pad may be attached to the bottom for use as a mop on hard surfaces.

This vacuum also works differently from the others I’ve tested. This variant does not require a smartphone app, which may be advantageous for those who are not technologically sophisticated.

There are still many options for tailoring the vacuum’s performance, and the Seal Plus can be used to block off regions. The bObsweep PetHair Plus had the least effective function of the models I examined.

It did a good job cleaning up cat hair, however it did not fare well when tested against cat litter. It’s also worth noting that this model features a classic roller brush, which makes it more prone to tangling and wrapping, particularly with long hair.

You may have to disentangle it by hand more frequently than with other models. Having said that, this robot vacuum has a large dustbin capacity of 500ml.

You won’t have to empty it as frequently as with smaller vacuums, and emptying the bin is simple. Overall, the bObsweep PetHair Plus is a versatile robot vacuum capable of doing a variety of chores without the assistance of a smartphone app.

I’ve also heard that bObsweep’s customer support is excellent. Unfortunately, it may not be the ideal solution for customers looking for strong suction and the convenience of a smartphone app.

Pros

• It functions as both a vacuum and a mop.
• 500ml large dustbin capacity
• Programmable without using an app
• Reputation for excellent customer service

Cons

• Brush rollers can tangle with hair.
• Suction isn’t as strong as it could be on some versions.
• It is not possible to link to smart home equipment or cellphones.

Who Should Get a Pet Hair Robot Vacuum?

If you dread pulling out the vacuum but are as bothered by the pet hair that accumulates behind your baseboards, if everyday vacuuming exhausts you, or if other duties push vacuuming to the bottom of your to-do list, a good robot vacuum is an investment in your time and sanity.

Robot vacuums are also an excellent option if you have a disability that prevents you from carrying and pushing a manual vacuum cleaner.

A decent hands-free vacuum can reduce your effort significantly by vacuuming when you’re not home, when you’re busy, and when you wouldn’t otherwise get around to cleaning the floor.

How to Choose the Best Pet Hair Robot Vacuum

Search for a Rubber Roller Brush

Bristle roller brushes are frequently used in traditional upright and canister vacuums. The combination of strong suction and a bristle roller brush improves cleaning power and aids in the removal of dirt and dander from carpet and upholstery.

The issue with bristle roller brushes is that they are readily tangled with hair. If your cat has long hair, or if you have long hair, it may become tangled around the bristle roller brush and impair the vacuum’s function.

Rubber roller brushes are less prone to become tangled with hair and other debris, saving you the time and effort of stopping to untangle the brush. It also minimizes the vacuum’s lifetime maintenance.

Select a Strong Suction Vacuum

No robot vacuum will be as powerful as an upright or canister vacuum, but it should be powerful enough to remove pet hair from your carpet.

Cat hair is very difficult to remove from carpet because it becomes lodged. Pet owners want a robot vacuum with powerful enough suction force to extract cat hair out of the carpet and completely remove it from the floor.

In general, the best vacuums for pet hair are the greatest vacuums on the market. Any robot vacuum that works well for pet hair will almost certainly work well for other sorts of detritus such as dirt, dander, and allergies.

Select a Vacuum with a Large Capacity

A robot vacuum has the advantage of being tiny and lightweight, but this also means that it has a smaller dustbin than a standard vacuum.

Pet hair and grime are often contained in less than a liter of robot vacuums. Depending on how much your pet sheds and how many animals dwell in your home, this means dumping out the contents once every cleaning to every couple of days.

Choose the highest capacity robot vacuum you can locate to lessen the amount of time you need to spend handling it.

Accept no robot vacuums with capacities less than 300 ml. This size may be adequate for pet-free apartments and tiny residences, but once fluff is added to the mix, such a small dustbin would be insufficient.

Look for a Sensitive and Intelligent Robot Vacuum

Some vacuum cleaners are crude and clumsy. They don’t know how to avoid all of your furniture, so when they come into contact with it, they collide with full power, leaving scuffs and scratches on the legs and bases of your possessions.

Good pet hair robot vacuums, on the other hand, feature reasonably advanced “brains” with robust mapping technology.

Because of their cliff sensors, bump sensors, wall sensors, optical encoders, and machine learning, they can explore your home without becoming trapped or hurting your furniture.

Select a Quiet-Operating Robot Vacuum

One of the advantages of robot vacuums is that they are quieter than regular upright or canister vacuums.

Most robot vacuums create around the same amount of noise as a hand mixer, however the level of noise varies. Choose a quiet one that will not disturb your pets if at all feasible.

Keep in mind that long pet hair tends to wrap and tangle around roller brushes, so look for vacuums that have features or designs that address this issue. Tangling is unavoidable, but you should select one with features that reduce the problem.

Some vacuums use rubber fins rather of brushes, which are less likely to tangle. Another feature is a blade designed to cut hair wrapped around the roller bar.

FAQs

Do robot vacuums remove pet hair?

Depending on the model, yes. Robot vacuums with rubber roller brushes, strong suction, and large dustbins function well in pet-friendly households.

Are robotic vacuum cleaners worthwhile?

Robot vacuums have limits, but they make up for it in terms of time savings.

They may not be as effective on high-pile carpeting and may be more expensive than some traditional vacuums, but they are extremely convenient and can decrease your weekly cleaning workload.

How often should you empty a robot vacuum?

The frequency with which you must empty the dustbin of a robot vacuum depends on its size.

Most models require emptying every 3 to 4 days, depending on how many pets you have and how much they shed.

Conclusion

Having thoroughly investigated and tested all of the aforementioned products, we have narrowed our recommendations down to two: Best Overall: iRobot Roomba i7+ and Ecovacs DEEBOT 500.

Our team here at BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes that our roundup of the best robot vacuum cleaners for pet hair was helpful in your search for the best option for your furry friend.