An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal. The apparatus is provided with an air-flow-generating device and with a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus, the apparatus being movable over the floor controlled by the control system and the apparatus performing a cleaning of the floor controlled by the control system. The control system is programmed in such a way that the control system controls the cleaning of the floor in such a way that the control system first activates and subsequently deactivates the air-flow-generating device. A method of cleaning the floor of an accommodation for an animal, the method comprising, as a first cleaning step, first generating an air flow and directing the air flow to the floor for removing loose material lying thereon. An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal, which apparatus is provided with an air-flow-generating device, and with a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus, the apparatus being movable over the floor controlled by the control system and the apparatus performing a cleaning of the floor controlled by the control system, the apparatus comprising a master unit and a mobile unit that is movable relative to the master unit, the floor-cleaning device and the air-flow-generating device being disposed on the mobile unit that is movable relative to the remaining part of the apparatus.