Litter boxes and fountains, no — they run below conversational level. A grooming vacuum or a 3,200 W dryer is a different matter, and those are worth using at reasonable hours.
Two very different classes of machine.
The quiet ones
Litter boxes at 20 to 50 dB and fountains that should be inaudible unless low on water. Neither travels through a wall.
The loud ones
Grooming vacuums at 60 to 75 dB and blaster dryers with no published figure at all. These are the machines to schedule considerately, particularly in a flat.
Structure-borne noise
A drum turning on a hard floor transmits into a ceiling below. A rubber mat under the machine costs nothing and is the usual fix.
Timing
Most machines allow quiet hours or scheduled cycles. Using them is the whole answer to this question.
This does not replace your device’s manual. Blade temperatures, locking mechanisms and cleaning procedures differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s instructions take precedence over anything written here. Unplug a device before dismantling it, check a hot blade or an air nozzle against your own hand before it goes anywhere near an animal, and keep a mechanism that closes or rotates under supervision until you know how it behaves.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17