Conscientious management of a cat-owned home can often be time-consuming, tedious, and energy-draining, robbing us of time we'd rather spend interacting with our cats. These are all products I would choose for housekeeping chores, if cost were no object. They range in cost from around $20 to $300 and up, but any one of them can help lighten the housekeeping load.
1. Dyson DC14 Animal Bagless Upright Cleaner
A cat-ruled house can require frequent vacuuming, especially if human allergies exist, with dust, dander, and tracked litter to contend with. A vacuum made specifically for cleaning animal detritus seemed too good to be true. The Dyson DC14 Animal, with its patented Root Cyclone technology claims to be the only vacuum that doesn't lose suction. Other features that I like are the no-bag, easy-empty cannister, the lifetime Hepa filter, and the 17-foot extension wand for easy stair cleaning.2. McCulloch Heavy-Duty MC1275 Steam Cleaner
A steam cleaner, in my opinion, is essential for hard surfaces which act as magnets for cat dander, or for cleaning up messy vomit or feces accidents on tile floors. The McCulloch Heavy-Duty steamer is a canister type with 1500 watts of steam power. A ready light indicates when the unit is ready to use. A storage compartment holds its 10 attachments, which include a steam jet nozzle, two extension wands, a triangle brush, an upholstery/floor brush, and a utility brush, as well as a squeegee, funnel, measuring cup, and terry cover for the floor brush. Read the ConsumerSearch.com review of the McCulloch steam cleaner.
3. Litter Robot
Scooping and cleaning litter boxes is a never-ending job, if one must do it manually. Imagine my delight then, in finding a self-cleaning litter box that cleans without messy rakes that clog. The Litter Robot resembles its name; it looks just like a fat little robot, and it is completely automatic. All the owner has to do is remove and dump the plastic bag lining the bottom tray and insert a new bag. The rotating action of the unit (about 7 minutes after a cat exits) does the rest.4. Petmate Litter Locker Plus
Disposal of litter box scoopings got a whole lot easier, once Petmate Litter Locker came along. This award-winning product seals urine clumps and feces, along with their odor, safely inside until ready for permanent disposal. I love mine and recommend Litter Locker for anyone who scoops litter.5. Bissell 9400 ProHeat Carpet Steam Cleaner
As a rule, cats are pretty clean critters, but the occasional accident does happen: hacked hairballs, vomit, or litter box misses, and these accidents invariably happen in clear sight on good carpeting. This Bissell model heats tap water up to 25 degrees hotter and also warms the cleaning solution. A Scotchgard applicator is a nice extra. I am happy with my less-expensive Bissell, but I'd upgrade to this model in a minute.6. Litterbox Furniture Stained Glass
A big item in housekeeping with cats is tracked litter. A nice litter box cabinet not only hides litter boxes from view, but helps avoid the litter-tracking problems. I like this one because it really is attractive, and has space inside for storing litter, scooper, and other accessories. The stained glass insert depicts a beautiful cat in a window, or you can opt for an optional hand-carved door. Thanks to DelMoki on the forum for the inspiration for this pick.7. Hoover Floor Mate Hard Floor Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Hoover brand has been synonymous with "vaccuum cleaner" for as long as I can remember, and this model marks another success for Hoover. This is an excellent every-day floor cleaning tool for hard floors, as it wet-scrubs with four rows of soft bristles, then vacuums up the dirty water and debris. Separate tanks hold cleaning solution and wet debris. A forum member enthuses, Ooh, I love my Floormate! It picks up cat & dog hair, and it sucks all the mopping water back up.