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With pet hair in the house, I have to say robot vacuums struggle quite a bit if you don't pick the right model. Most of the time the problem isn't the suction power but the brushes getting clogged right away, so the first thing is to look for models with anti-tangle brushes or, even better, ones without a main brush (with only side brushes). Also check that the filter is easy to clean frequently, because with pets you'll clog it every week.
If your dog or cat sheds a ton, a robot vacuum alone won't cut it: you'll still need to use a regular vacuum every now and then, especially on carpets. But a robot that works well at least reduces daily dirt and the amount of hair that ends up on furniture. It's worth spending a bit more on models designed specifically for pet hair, don't just buy the cheapest one that promises everything.
Another important thing: set a timer so it runs when there are no pets following it obsessively or trying to latch onto the captured hair (I know it sounds ridiculous, but some dogs really can't stand it). If your house is small a decent basic model is fine, if it's large consider something with longer battery life.
Tangle-free brushes are really the key when you have pets. It's not a joke - a robot with standard brushes gets clogged with hair after a week and basically becomes useless. Models like the Roborock S7 MaxV or Ecovacs Deebot X2 have specific brushes that don't get tangled, and honestly they make a huge difference. If you have cats or dogs that shed a lot, without this feature you're throwing money away.
The other important aspect is the dustbin: it needs to be spacious, like 500ml minimum, otherwise you're emptying the robot every two days. A HEPA filter also helps a lot because it traps hair better compared to standard filters, so it doesn't scatter around when the robot returns to base. Keep in mind you'll still need to manually clean the brushes every 1-2 weeks - no robot works miracles - but at least you won't end up with an impossible tangle after a few days.
Seconding what was mentioned before about suction power: it's not the issue. What matters is that the robot can actually pick up hair without jamming, because if the brushes get stuck, you can forget about automatic cleaning.
The real issue isn't finding the most powerful robot, but choosing one with an **automatic emptying system**. It might seem like an optional feature, but when you have pets it's basically mandatory: hair builds up fast in the tank and you'll need to empty it every two days or the robot loses efficiency. With automatic emptying it's just once a week, max.
As for brushes, whoever says tangle-free ones are essential isn't wrong, but there's a detail a lot of people miss: the tank shape matters too. Some models have awkward designs where hair gets tangled around the gears, not just on the brush. Check reviews where people actually show how the robot works after a month, not just on day one. YouTube tests with dog-owning homes are pretty reliable for figuring out if it keeps its suction or drops off quickly.
One more thing: the integrated mop that a lot of robots have these days could be a pain with certain coat types because hair gets trapped in the cloth. If you have a dog that sheds long hair, maybe go for a model where you can disable the mop function or turn it off easily.
Skip the budget models that promise everything - they're cheap but need constant maintenance and end up wasting your time and money. What nobody really emphasized enough is that you should also check the dustbin capacity, because with pets in your home it fills up fast and you won't be able to run long cleaning cycles on their own without having to empty it manually.
I think the most underrated factor is how often you need to empty it: it doesn't matter how good the robot is if you end up spending more time cleaning the bin than anything else. That said, all the guys here are right about something, but I reckon they're looking at it from the wrong angle. Tangle-free brushes are important, sure, but they're not enough on their own if you don't pair them with decent suction power and a decent filter. I've seen robots with anti-tangle brushes that still didn't pick up enough hair because they were underpowered, and in the end they just created more work.
What really makes the difference is the combo: pick a model that has both hair-resistant brushes and at least medium-high suction power, and add the automatic emptying system like someone mentioned here. It's not like you have to spend a fortune, but those 150-200 euro models need to be approached with caution when you've got pets at home. Better to go for brands that specifically build for this problem, because you already know how it goes: cheap robot = frequent clogging = frustrated after two months.
Oh, and one practical thing: whatever model you pick, it helps a lot to run the robot more often (even daily) rather than having it do mega-sessions once a week. Scattered hairs here and there it picks up easily; a mountain of hair is a disaster.
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