I have a Birman cat in the house (long fluffy hair...her nickname actually is "Fluffy Cat") and her loose hair would lay flat on carpet and my big vac could never get it up off the carpet.  This little vac just picks it right up and picks up dog hair easily as well.  We have horses and we track in dirt and even pieces of hay on our clothes and this little red vac just doesnt even argue and picks it all right up!  I love it! I have hardwood floors with area rugs.