An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal includes a master unit and a mobile unit that is movable relative to the master unit. A floor-cleaning device and an air-flow-generating device are disposed on the mobile unit that is movable relative to the remaining part of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control system activates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves away from the master unit and deactivates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit. After activation of the air-flow-generating device, the control system activates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit and deactivates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit has reached the master unit.