What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? My cats and I have been testing options at home.

Black Friday brings amazing deals on the strongest robot vacuumsThe stronger the robot vacuum, the more expensive — that’s the general rule that can make it tricky to find a robot vacuum that actually works on pet hair and a robot vacuum that actually works for your budget. Black Friday has the power to make those ultra-premium robot vacuums, including the best robot vacuum mop combos, significantly more affordable. As many robot vacuum brands gear up to release their new models for the year in January, top vacuums from the past year tend to hit new record-low prices in the last half of November (and we’re keeping track of the best robot vacuum deals as they drop). Suddenly, a robot vacuum with 20,000 Pa of suction power is the same price as the model with 10,000 Pa that you were eyeing a few weeks ago. Maybe a built-in livestream pet camera isn’t just a dream feature anymore.How to find a robot vacuum that works on pet hairYou’ve probably gathered that suction power is one major determinant of how well a robot vacuum works on pet hair. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a robot vacuum to deal with pet fur. Two spinning brush rolls are far more effective than one at loosening fur embedded in carpet, and the separation between the two acts as an exit door for hair that’d start wrapping otherwise. Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won’t feel like emptying it yourself every day.If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hairIf your home zoo seriously needs the utmost fur-fighting power, though, I’d have a good cordless stick vacuum on standby — stick vacuums are just more powerful than robot vacuums in general.Other robot vacuums we’ve tested recentlyI tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn’t make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. I recently tested and was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, which isn’t in this list just because its more powerful sibling is the obvious pick for pet parents.I’ve also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren’t a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to “climb,” though the fine print is that it can’t scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I’ll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.