Okay, I'm ashamed to say I didn't get a Dyson after asking you all for
advice. For a one-bedroom rental apartment, it seemed like overkill
expense- and power-wise. So I got a Hoover Savvy on sale (thank goodness
for online shopping, delivery, and front-desk attendants). I wasn't
going to take it out of the box and put it together until the weekend,
but I couldn't resist.

Oh, my.

It has a "red" dirt indicator that, after a half hour of playing around
and a half compartment of linty dirt and cat litter, still hasn't gone
to green "clean." Probably never will. But it's better!

It fluffied up most of the matted down (high-traffic) areas to a greater
extent than I expected.

I got free delivery with rebate, and it was under $200.

And I think I have a better idea now of how much Hodge and I both shed.