My cats and I found the 8 best vacuums for pet owners, from powerful hair pickup to livestream cameras

Read my initial review of the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller.

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is the standout new robot vacuum for tackling heavy-duty messes from multiple pets. It would be ideal for large homes with plush carpeting, intense mopping needs, or those with rooms separated by a 3-inch step or a sliding door.

Dreame just dropped the Aqua10 Ultra Roller in September 2025, but I can already tell that it's going to be the face of a whole new wave of premium robot vacuums (months before the 2026 release cycle starts at CES in January). The 30,000 Pa of suction power sets a new benchmark for the market, and it has been wicked on pet hair on various rugs in my apartment — including a 100% pickup rate on an obstacle course of cat hair clumps I laid out on a plush rug. I'm similarly impressed with how practically Dreame priced this model. It costs the same as the Roborock Saros 10 and Saros 10R that I obsessed over earlier this year, but it is significantly more powerful. It has also been on sale for less than $1,300 almost the entire time it's been on virtual shelves.

The Aqua10 Ultra Roller's title speaks to its large roller mop that rinses itself while it's mopping. This system has excelled at sopping up large liquid spills on my hardwood kitchen floor without streaking said spill across the rest of the floor. Between pressurized spinning and sturdy design that feels built for vigorous scrubbing, I feel confident that the Aqua10 Ultra Roller is sanitarily removing dried grime (not just making the floor shiny). Two bottles are included: one typical cleaning solution and one for neutralizing pet odors on hard floors.

Dreame first became known for climbing robot vacuums with the release of the X50 Ultra at CES in 2025, but I wasn't sold on the "climbing" capabilities when the extent of the thresholds it could scale maxed out at 2.36 inches. The improved ProLeap system seen in the Aqua10 Ultra Roller bumps that to 3.15 inches, which still won't cover stairs, but could make steeper doorways and sliding door tracks possible.

The Eufy Omni E28 would be a lifesaver in homes with lots of accident-prone soft surfaces, like fully carpeted rooms or furniture where pets insist on throwing up. There's probably not a household with pets where a portable carpet cleaner wouldn't be a welcomed addition, especially for the spots where a robot vacuum can't go.

Until there's a robot vacuum that fully doubles as a carpet cleaner, the Eufy E28 is the next best thing. Picture a Bissell Little Green-type device that you didn't have to dig out of a closet. Instead, you can grab it right off your robot vacuum's dock. Just pull it up and off with the handle, uncoil the nozzle, and press the water trigger. It's a handy backup for any liquid messes your pet might make on a carpet or furniture — a robot vacuum can't really help you with that.

I didn't want to risk testing it on my velvet couch, so it took a roadtrip to my parents' house to tackle some rugs and weather-worn patio furniture. The water was pretty nasty after cleaning four cushions, and they didn't smell nearly as musty afterward. As long as you can finagle a way to keep it plugged in, the E28 would also be awesome for car seats.

My mom was particularly impressed with the E28's success on a medium pile rug where one of the cats had puked. The stain wasn't responding to dabbing with a paper towel, but came right out after a pass or two of the E28 nozzle. Even if there aren't any visible stains, it'd still be nice to be able to quickly deep clean your carpets or rugs whenever — there's definitely peace of mind in legitimate sanitation after shoes or paws from outside just stomped all over.

As an actual robot vacuum, the Eufy E28 Omni is quite well-rounded. At 20,000 Pa of suction power, it's far more powerful than I expected for an all-in-one cleaner. (For reference, the Eufy's robot vacuum that converts into a stick vacuum only has 8,000 Pa). The large roller mop is also a high-end touch that only a few robot vacuum and mop combos have so far, and it seems to prevent streaking and spreading spills more than a flat pad or spinning pads. Plus, the split-down-the-middle dual rubber brush is the only design I've experienced that actually prevents hair wrapping.

The Shark PowerDetect will be the most effective cordless stick vacuum in homes with multiple pets and a heavy rug or carpet situation. If you're the type to dread emptying your vacuum's dust bin — which will fill up faster with a powerful vacuum sucking up more fur — you'll definitely want to opt for a self-emptying stick vacuum like this one.

The price tag on the Shark PowerDetect cordless stick vacuum is deceptive — this thing feels like more of a beast than the most expensive Dyson. You'll believe that it's Shark's most powerful cordless vacuum to date the first time you push it across a carpet. It's one of those vacuums that you can feel working hard, especially when it ramps up its own suction depending on level of debris it's sensing.

But the most satisfying part is seeing the proof in the dustbin. Because it automatically empties each time it gets hung back on the dock, each cleaning session starts with an empty bin. Even if there wasn't much prominent visible debris lying around at the start of a cleaning session, I was always greeted with a giant gray ball of whatever was invisibly chilling on my rugs.

If you're going to forfeit the hands-off-ness of a robot vacuum, the least you could do is treat yourself to a cordless stick vacuum that auto-empties. This Shark model does it for a fraction of the price of the nicest self-emptying robot vacuums, and that's an automatic leg up over any of the current Dyson vacuums.

Read our review of the 3i G10+.

The 3i G10+ would save crucial floor space for pet owners who live in apartments, thanks to its ability to "self-empty" (compress debris for weeks at a time) without a self-emptying — storage under furniture unlocked.

Retailing for less than $500 even at full price, the 3i G10+ is easily the most advanced robot vacuum that a budget shopper can snag. One of those advanced features is a livestream pet camera, which will be especially appealing to pet parents who'd like to keep tabs on things while they're not home.

Frankly, 3i has no business charging this little for such a packed little vacuum. I tested the 3i G10+ for weeks in my apartment and came away shocked at how much of a bang for your buck this is. Its smart mapping is easily the most elevated experience I've had with a budget robot vacuum. Most rooms were accurately depicted in the map after its first mapping run — not just the walls and doorways, but down to the floor type and furniture arrangement inside. The G10+ is also the most affordable small obstacle avoidance I've ever come across, and I didn't expect it to be as accurate as it was. It successfully avoided most cords, a fallen hand towel, and decoy pet waste, identifying each in the app.

The presence of a livestream security camera is the same story — you never see that on a vacuum under $500. It's definitely a clunkier, more pixelated experience than what you get with a fancy Roborock, but it's better than not having one at all.

The G10+ also has stronger suction power (18,000 Pa) than many more expensive robot vacuums on the market. When carpet is sensed, it automatically slows its roll to ensure it's not zipping over any debris or hair that's latching on. Zone cleaning is even more intentional, sweeping the area in a grid so that every inch receives passes from two different angles.

Instead of self-emptying into a larger dock, the G10+ uses a dust compacting method that still prolongs dustbin emptying to once every month or two.

Read my full review of the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the most practical cordless Dyson for most people, but it would flourish in homes with lots of hard floors and one to two pets. Weighing in at just over five pounds, the V12 Detect Slim is the least physically-demanding Dyson to grab and go — and ease of use isn't a factor I can ignore, considering it directly impacts how much you'll actually use your vacuum. Its compactness also makes it easy to store in a small space, including under a couch or hanging on the wall.

I recommend the Dyson V12 Detect Slim to just about everyone — not because it's the cheapest or most heavy-duty Dyson vacuum, but because it sits at a super approachable middle ground. It is the most affordable Dyson vacuum with a laser, which will change the game in any home with a lot of hard flooring. It illuminates all of the pet hair that's blending into your hardwood right now, though I personally feel the biggest rush when it points out scattered kitty litter dust that I had no clue was there. It's more than enough reason to choose the Dyson V12 Detect Slim over any of the cheaper Dysons without a laser.

Dyson always throws in its mini motorized pet tool with any stick vacuum purchase, and they are a real one for that — those are a separate purchase with most other cordless stick vacuums. Though there will always be a time and a place for the humble lint roller, the motorized handheld tool is crucial for keeping up with heavy pet hair on furniture, comforters, and car seats.

Read my full review of the Roborock Saros 10R or my comparison piece of the Roborock Saros 10 vs. Saros 10R.

The Roborock Saros 10R would make sense for large homes with spacious rooms that are prone to tufts of pet hair, kibble, or kitty litter hiding out in corners or along edges.

If you get nervous about your pet's safety or pastimes when you're not home, the Saros 10R would be a comforting choice. Its livestream pet camera is the most user-friendly and interactive I've used, and can even be used to check in with a pet sitter.

Strong suction power alone isn't enough to encompass the wider variety of ways a pet can dirty a floor. The Roborock Saros 10R is the best robot vacuum and mop for pet hair that I've tested, and those mopping skills extend to wiping up pet dander, litter box dust, wet droplets, and dirty paw prints. Compared to robot mop combos with flat mopping pads that mimic a pass of a wet paper towel, the Saros 10R's pressurized rotating pads more closely take after those circular spinning brushes at the car wash. They provide more of a tenacious physical scrub that eats away at outdoor paw and shoe grime near the door and dried splatters near pet bowls. Most notably, the Saros 10R's corner cleaning here is unmatched — one of those mopping pads can swivel out from under the vacuum to scrub in 90-degree angles and along wall edges.

Though its mopping is the star, the Saros 10R's 20,000 Pa of suction power is still in the top percentile for flagship robot vacuums. While another robot vacuum may be better at keeping up with heavy shedding on carpet, the Saros 10R is a stellar vacuum on hardwood and tile. I sent it to clean hair in my bathroom, crumbs near the kitchen counter, and tracked kitty litter in two locations every single day, and I could always confidently walk around barefoot knowing that nothing would get stuck to the bottom of my feet.

The Saros 10R's livestream pet camera gave me so much peace of mind every time I wasn't home — so much so that I'm now sold on that being a crucial feature for pet parents. This camera can also make two-way calls like a roving Echo speaker, and can roam around specifically to find a hiding pet.

This vacuum recommendation comes from Mashable Associate Editor Tim Marcin.

The Shark Pet Cordless Essential IX141 is a heavy hitter for budget shoppers who don't want to spend more than $200 — it's often on sale for less than that. It'll particularly appeal to folks who are fine with skipping a motorized tool for furniture as long as it's tough on pet hair on the floor.

Lasers and automatic emptying do make several stick vacuums great for homes with pets, but their absence doesn't automatically deem a stick vacuum to be crappy. There's definitely a crowd of shoppers who don't want to deal with the fancier features — they just want a straightforward vac that's easy to grab and go. This Shark Pet model fits that bill.

The IX141 has proven to be quite vigorous for the price, hyped by the more than 1,500 Amazon purchasers who gave it five stars, as well as Mashable Associate Editor Tim Marcin — it's his favorite vacuum that he's ever owned. "I have the world's single best dog, but my goodness does he shed fur," Marcin says. "For years, I trudged a corded vacuum across my NYC apartment, thinking it was the only affordable tool that could effectively remove pet hair. Then I got the Shark cordless, and it did a better job without a cord, and at a much lighter weight."

Other reviewers on Amazon had similar success stories with the IX141 model's pet hair pickup, assuring that "pet" isn't in this vacuum's name for no reason. The proof of its strong suction is stored in the dust cup, which can be pointed and emptied directly into the trash. It's a much easier setup than the perpendicular dust bins on the Dyson V7 or V8.

The Shark Pet Cordless Essential IX141 is a solid budget vacuum for folks aiming to spend less tahn $200 on a vacuum (it's almost always on sale for less than that). Some sacrifices are made to keep the price low, like the absence of a motorized pet tool for furniture that all Dyson vacuums come with. Some people don't feel like keeping track of a lot of attachments, anyway.

Lasers and automatic emptying hubs do give several cordless vacuums an edge, but this Shark Pet stick vacuum is still a powerhouse without them. It's a no-brainer purchase if you don't feel like comparing fancy features and just want a straightforward model that works on pet hair.

That's exactly how things unfolded with Mashable Associate Editor Tim Marcin — and now, the Shark Pet IX141 is his favorite vacuum he's ever owned. "I have the world's single best dog, but my goodness does he shed fur," Marcin says. "For years, I trudged a corded vacuum across my NYC apartment, thinking it was the only affordable tool that could effectively remove pet hair. Then I got the Shark cordless, and it did a better job without a cord, and at a much lighter weight."

The nearly 1,500 five star reviews at Amazon paint a similar picture with a ton of stories about this Shark keeping up with shedding in households with multiple animals. Its tenacity on hard floors and carpet is proven by the amount of gunk sucked up into the transparent dust cup — which is much easier to point and eject debris straight into the trash than the dustbins on the Dyson V7 and V8.

UPDATE: iRobot filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 15, and has been acquired by Roomba manufacturer Picea. While Roombas are still available to buy like usual, I would recommend deprioritizing a Roomba in your robot vacuum search. There are robot vacuums with better features at better prices out there, and with iRobot's rocky future now layered in, even the best Roomba vacuums aren't worth it.

The Roomba Max 705 Combo would be a huge relief in homes where pet accidents on the floor are common. In my testing, iRobot's PrecisionVision navigation has proven to be the most reliable small obstacle and pet waste avoidance on the entire robot vacuum market. For pet messes that do need to be mopped up, the Max 705 Combo offers heated mopping (and auto-dispensing detergent) for the most hygienic cleanup possible.

iRobot also brought back the stylish wooden accented dock, a design choice first seen on the 2023 Roomba Combo j9+. This elevated design choice will speak to anyone who isn't thrilled on the plasticky build of most self-emptying docks out there.

Anecdotally speaking, Roombas are the best robot vacuums for pet waste. Every j Series Roombas I tested at home had better track records with dodging pet waste-like substances (like big pieces of mulch and brown sugar) as well as phone chargers and pet toys, compared to other robot vacuums with hit-or-miss small obstacle avoidance. The Roomba Max 705 Combo uses the same PrecisionVision technology that made the older Roombas so spot-on, but this time, it's AI powered. This 705 model is so new that I haven't gotten a test unit yet, but I can only assume the accuracy is just as stellar, if not even smarter.

The upgraded version of PrecisionVision also helps to anticipate different types of messes and clean them accordingly. The front-facing camera assesses a wet or dry mess in the cleaning path ahead, making multiple passes when needed. I think this is easily the best Roomba for hardwood or tile floors — not only is this iRobot's first roller mop, but it's also the first Roomba with heated mopping. The roller cleans itself as it goes, all contributing to more sanitary scrubbing process that'd be great for pet messes on hard floors.

While the Roomba 705 series are definitely the best Roombas for pet hair, their 13,000 Pa of suction power doesn't come close to the 20,000 to 30,000 Pa we're seeing in flagship robot vacuums from other brands. But suction power isn't the sole factor that gives a robot vacuum good pet hair pickup — the brush roll system also matters heavily, and iRobot's revived dual rubber brush system is the most effective out there. These lay parallel to each other and spin in opposite directions, excelling at pinching pet hair that's embedded into carpet. I first experienced this setup with the Roomba Combo 10 Max, and was bummed that all of the other 2025 Roombas just have one measly brush roll.