If you own a cat, you know how much of a problem it can be to constantly clean up hair left all over the house. Instead of dragging out the large, full-sized vacuum each time you need a quick clean-up, a handheld vacuum can come in handy for small messes like hair buildup. In fact, most cat owners opt to have a handheld vacuum for this reason.
There are a variety of handheld vacuums on the market, but you need to find one that will be ideal for picking up stubborn cat hair from all different kinds of surfaces. Not all vacuums are going to be well equipped for this task.
We have eliminated your need to waste time and money through trial and error purchases. We’ve even taken on the task of going through and checking the reviews from other cat owners to get the perfect list of best handheld vacuums for cat hair. Let’s take a look at what we have come up with!
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners in 2024
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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IRIS Portable Handheld Vacuum |
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Best Value
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BISSELL Pet Hair Corded Vacuum |
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Premium Choice
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Shark Cordless Hand Vacuum |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Dirt Devil Handheld Vacuum Cleaner |
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BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vacuum |
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The 7 Best Handheld Vacuums for Cat Hair
1. IRIS High-Power Portable Vacuum Cleaner – Best Overall
| Weight | 1.1 pounds |
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Included Components | Vacuum, vacuum dock, brush tool attachment & crevice tool attachment |
Our best overall pick for a handheld vacuum for picking up your cat’s hair goes to the Iris High-Power Cordless Portable Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. This vacuum charges quickly and can run up to 20 minutes on low or 15 minutes when fully charged. There is a battery display that lets you know how much battery is left before the next charge.
The Iris is lightweight, weighing in at only 1.1 pounds. It may be small and light, but the DX motor provides a very powerful suction that makes it great for cleaning up cat hair and any other pet hair around the house or in the car.
This handheld vacuum is very easy to maintain, the washable dust cup can simply be removed and emptied without making any mess. This vacuum comes with two attachments to help with efficiency in tighter, harder-to-reach spaces. The attachments can be conveniently stored in the charging dock when not in use. Some users did have some complaints about the battery and the run time after a full charge not living up to expectations.
2. BISSELL Pet Hair Corded Handheld Vacuum – Best Value
| Weight | 4.5 pounds |
| Battery | N/A |
| Included Components | Contour nozzle tool, hard nozzle tool |
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum will give you great value for your money. This vacuum weighs 4.5 pounds and features two specialized nozzles for versatility. One nozzle is firm and the other is made of contoured rubber with comb-like bristles that work best for picking up pet hair, especially on furniture or stairs.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser has multi-level filtration that helps reduce smells and allergens.
This model isn’t going to be the most convenient choice for hard-to-reach areas and the power cord can be an inconvenience to work around.
While the vacuum is lightweight, there are much lighter options on the market. It does a great job of picking up cat hair, but reviewers do warn that it will blow air forcefully out the sides, which can cause loose debris to be blown around.
3. Shark WANDVAC Cordless Hand Vacuum – Premium Choice
| Weight | 1.4 pounds |
| Battery | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion |
| Included Components | Multi-surface pet tool, charging dock, dual onboard accessory storage, duster crevice tool |
Our recommendation for a premium handheld vacuum for cat hair goes to the Shark WANDVAC Cordless Hand Vac. This vacuum is super lightweight and very compact. It has a very powerful suction that makes it great for cat hair, especially when using the included multi-surface pet tool. It also comes in a variety of sleek colors.
The Shark WANDVAC Cordless Hand Vac is ideal for quick and easy clean-up needs. The accessory bank attaches directly to the charging dock, so any additional tools are easy to find. This vacuum is easy to store and charges right on the dock. This model is faster charging than most slimline handheld vacuums.
This vacuum does come with a washable filter for ease of cleaning. The biggest complaint is the small size of the dust cup, as it does fill up rather quickly and requires frequent emptying. While this is a more expensive choice, it is a very well-loved handheld vacuum.
4. Dirt Devil Scorpion Handheld Vacuum Cleaner – Best for Kittens
| Weight | 3.7 pounds |
| Battery | N/A |
| Included Components | Hose, crevice tool, sliding brush, upholstery tool |
 The Dirt Devil Scorpion Handheld Vacuum Cleaner comes at a fair price and is very well-liked among pet owners. This vacuum is lightweight and has a very powerful motor that gives it great suction for all sorts of messes. The included crevice tool is super convenient for getting into tight spaces.
This is a corded vacuum, but this cord is quite long, giving you plenty of space to work with when cleaning. The good news is that you do not have to ensure it is charged before use. There is no bag in this handheld vacuum, and it is easy to clean since you simply dump the contents right into the trash.
According to reviewers, the biggest downfall of this vacuum is that air is pushed out of the vents on the side, which can further spread debris. Some reviewers did warn that this vacuum broke rather easily and is not of the highest quality construction. Overall, this vacuum is a great price for your money and many pet owners highly recommend it.
5. BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Li-Ion Cordless Hand Vacuum
| Weight | 3 pounds |
| Battery | 14V Lithium-ion |
| Included Components | Battery, motorized brush tool, upholstery tool, crevice tool |
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Li-Ion Cordless Hand Vacuum is a compact and lightweight option that is designed specifically for pet hair. Not only does it get the job done with pet hair, but it’s great for other messes as well, including scattered litter. Upon activation of your purchase, Bissell will donate 5 dollars to the Bissell Pet Foundation.
The 14V lithium-ion battery for strong suction and efficient clean-up. The dust bin is bigger than that of some competitors and holds more hair, dirt, dust, and debris. It is simple and easy to empty. There is a triple-level filtration in this vacuum as well which helps with odors and allergens, which is perfect for allergy sufferers.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Li-Ion comes with some tool attachments made just for a pet owner’s needs. This includes a motorized brush tool, an upholstery tool, and even a crevice tool for those tight spaces. The downside to this vacuum according to the reviewers is the short run time after charging and some individual vacuums have emitted a small electrical charge when the power button is pressed.
6. BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets
| Weight | 4.5 pounds |
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Included Components | Contour Nozzle Tool, Hard Nozzle Tool |
The Black+Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets is another option that is geared toward our four-legged housemates. The filter is washable, and it has a one-touch emptying ability for easy clean-up.
The vacuum conveniently stands upright on end for both charging and storage. Under the standard setting, the battery can last up to 30 minutes but had complaints of shorter battery life on the higher setting.
This vacuum is much quieter than some others on the market. It has a large dust cup so that you don’t have to frequently dump the contents to keep cleaning. It may not be as lightweight as some of the others, but it did come very well-reviewed by pet owners.
There were complaints, however, that some of these vacuums did end up having faulty motors and the manufacturer had to be contacted. It does come with two different nozzles that can be switched out for your cleaning needs.
7. BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Cordless Handheld Vacuum
| Weight | 3 pounds |
| Battery | 20V Lithium-Ion |
| Included Components | Washable filter (model PVF110), on-board brush, on-board crevice tool, and charging base |
The Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Handheld Vacuum has a strong suction thanks to its 20V lithium-ion battery. This vacuum is lightweight and uses cyclonic action to get the job done. The 3-stage filtration system helps reduce odors, allergens, and helps enhance the overall performance of the vacuum.
The filters in the Black & Decker 20V Max are replaceable so there are no worries of having to replace the entire product when the filter has reached the end of its lifespan. The 200-degree rotating nozzle is a great addition for hard-to-reach areas.
According to some customer reviews, the Black and Decker 20V Max does not have the best battery life after a full charge and only lasts about 10 minutes. Some users also complained that it only lasts about a year before experiencing functionality issues. The silver lining is that this does come with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Handheld Vacuum for Cat Hair
Benefits of Having a Handheld Vacuum
There are many benefits of having a handheld vacuum in the home, especially if you own pets!
Things to Consider Before You Buy
Conclusion
IRIS High-Power Cordless Portable Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is a great overall choice for cat owners that are looking for a lightweight handheld vacuum that has great suction and is small, compact, and easy to store when not in use.
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum will be budget-friendly and still give you good value for your money. It may be corded, which can be a downfall to some users, but it has a long reach and does not have to recharge after each use.
The Shark WANDVAC Cordless Hand Vac may be a bit on the expensive side, but it got our pick for premium choice for a reason. This lightweight vacuum packs powerful suction in a lightweight and sleek design that is easy to use, store,, and clean. It even comes in several color choices.
Now that the reviews have been checked over, hopefully, you will have a better idea of which handheld vacuum will be best suited for your cat hair cleanup needs.
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- 14 Easy Ways to Remove Pet Hair From Furniture
- 7 Best Brushes for Short-Haired Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Budimir Jevtic, Shutterstock
