Best Vacuum Cleaners for Houses with Pets

Searching for the best vacuum for pet hair? Our experts have put together a guide on what vacuum is best for you. 

For pet owners, love for our furry friends is unconditional. Whether you own a cat, dog, hamster, whatever, they are part of the family, part of the fabric of our lives and attached to us by a strong emotional bond.

But for all of that love and companionship, pets aren’t without their inconveniences. And in the case of cats and dogs, in particular, the creatures we seem to bond most closely with, there is one source of irritation that gets up everyone’s nose - hair

For those with the foresight to choose short-haired, non-moulting breeds, this may seem like a trivial issue. But for other cat and dog owners, especially those with longer-haired varieties, going through the twice-yearly ritual of coats being shed can be a serious test of patience. Even at the best of times, a particularly fluffy cat or dog is likely to leave a tell-tale trail of hair everywhere it traipses over your home.

Faced with a constant battle against stray fur, many cat and dog owners come to swear by their vacuum cleaners. For many, the right appliance - one that can effortlessly suck up all of that shed hair without the risk of tangling or clogging - is worth its weight in furballs. Standard dust-busting devices often just do not cut it. For effective hair management, you need a special type of vacuum.

Best vacuum cleaners - For pet owners

Here’s a quick overview of some of the best vacuum cleaners available on the market for pet owners.

Shark attack

Shark has made a name for itself designing powerful vacuum cleaners for specialist uses, and so it is no surprise that the brand scores very highly on products aimed at pet owners. The Shark Apex AZ1002 upright vacuum has two stand-out features for this target market - an anti-wrap system that stops hair getting tangled in the roller brushes, and an anti-allergen dust filtration system. The Shark Rotator NV752, meanwhile, is a three-in-one convertible upright that includes a TruePet accessory - a motorised mini-brush attachment that is perfect for getting into hard-to-reach nooks and crannies and for lifting hair off sofas.

Dyson Ball technology

Dyson pushed its patented roller ball design as revolutionising vacuum cleaner mobility, offering a fluid 360-degree motion to help lighten the cleaning load. Recognising the physical toll that trying to drag piles of animal hair out of a carpet can take, the company has also designed vacuums in its Ball range designed specifically for pet owners. The Dyson Ball Animal 2, for example, is a manoeuvrable upright with a motorised turbine brush pick up and an anti-allergen system. The Dyson Big Ball Animal 2, meanwhile, is a lightweight cylinder vacuum that automatically adjusts suction for different floor types, features anti-tangle brush heads and has a max power mode for when the moulting season really kicks in.

Vax Blade 2 Max

Cordless ‘stick’ vacuum cleaners are becoming increasingly popular for their convenience and ease of use. But while there are clear advantages to lighter vacuums and not having to navigate metres of coiled up cord as you work, one of the drawbacks of this style of vacuum cleaner for pet owners is lower suction power and smaller drum capacity. The Vax Blade 2 Max certainly addresses the former problem, with adjustable power settings that can be increased up to three times higher than the average stick vacuum, making it perfect for those quick once-overs around the home when there is visible pet hair everywhere.

Vacuum cleaner Repairs 

Whichever vacuum cleaner you decide on to keep on top of that pet hair, bear in mind that the extra workload involved in keeping your home fur-free puts added strain on your machine. But if your vacuum does conk out one day, never fear - Go Assist’s national call-out repair service will get your device up and running again for much less than the cost of buying a new one.