Traditional vacuums are better than robot vacuums for pet hair, as robot vacuums lack the suction to pull hair out of carpets. That said, robot vacuums can whizz under lots of furniture where a traditional vacuum would struggle to fit: underneath chests of drawers, cupboards and sofas for example, which may be useful for cat owners. But traditional vacuums still give you the best overall clean for pet hair, which is why that’s what we’ve focused on in this article.

Our guide to the best vacuum cleaners explains the complicated matter of measuring suction, but as a rough guide, look for a 600 Watt motor or higher. And, importantly, remember to empty the receptacle as regularly as possible: a bag or cyclone cylinder filled to the brim with pet hair will drastically reduce the vacuum’s suction power.

A cyclone has the advantage over a bag here, because the hair is visible, but its built-in filter will need to be cleaned regularly. “Pet hair is small, fine, almost invisible and can get everywhere,” says Fola George of home cleaning specialists WeCasa. “It’s important to get it all up, especially if anyone in the house has allergies. That’s why I prefer the cyclones for that job. Because it sucks it straight in, you can see it’s working and you get rid of it straight away.”

A good pet vacuum needs special attachments for removing pet hair, which can be finer than human hair, making it more likely to cling to fabrics due to static electricity. Hair can also easily clog the bristles of a standard vacuum cleaner head, reducing its ability to sweep up dirt.

Motorised rotating brush rolls, preferably with anti-tangle features, are a feature of most good pet vacuums but you should also check for accessories like turbo nozzles, crevice tools and dust brush tools designed for getting pet hair and dander out of upholstery, curtains and inaccessible corners.