Best Cat Tunnel (and How to Pick the Right Size)

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A cat tunnel is a fabric tube on a spring frame that your cat can race through, hide in and ambush from. This guide covers why cats use tunnels, what to check before you buy (mainly the opening size), the three tunnels in our catalog, others a reviewer tried, and how to play safely.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Cats.com, where writer Katelynn Sobus bought nine cat tunnels and tested them with her own cats (article updated March 2026). Play and safety advice comes from International Cat Care, Cats Protection, PDSA, The Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative and a vet writing for PetMD. Product facts come from the makers’ own pages, checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test these tunnels ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Why cats like tunnels

Cats like small, covered places to hide and good places to ambush from. Cats Protection says cats love to climb and hide, and that the best games encourage cats to stalk, pounce, chase and bat objects with a paw in a safe way. PDSA lists a tunnel next to a cat tree and a simple cardboard box as places cats can have hours of fun, and says these also give a cat some space of its own.

International Cat Care explains that play explores all parts of a cat’s natural predatory sequence: search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch and manipulate. It also says cats prefer to play where there are obstacles and various levels that give camouflage and hiding opportunities. A tunnel gives your cat somewhere to hide, stalk from and run through, which is why Cats.com calls play tunnels very enriching.

A cardboard box with holes cut in it does a similar job, and iCatCare suggests giving your cat a new box to explore two or three times a week.

What to look for in a cat tunnel

• Opening size. This matters most. The tunnels Cats.com tested had openings from 9.5 inches (SmartyKat) to 11 inches (Frisco), which it calls larger than most. PetsRadar found a 25 cm (about 10 inch) four-way tunnel roomy for kittens and small cats but a tight squeeze for tubby or adult cats. For a big cat, look for the widest opening you can find and check the maker’s measurements.
• Length and shape. The straight tunnels Cats.com tested ran from 32 to 46 inches. Three-way and four-way tunnels give more exits for chase games between cats, and some fold into a U shape or a ring to save space.
• Noise. Most tunnels have a crinkly lining. Cats.com found the SmartyKat much louder than the rest, and one of its tester’s cats was afraid of it, while the Coziwow was quieter than most.
• Peep holes. They let your cat look out and pounce, and give you a gap for a wand toy.
• Attached toys and strings. Many tunnels have a hanging ball or string ties. These add play value but are the main safety point (see below).
• Bed combos. Tunnel beds join a tunnel to a padded bed. They take more space, but your cat may nap in them as well as play. Check that the bed cover comes off for washing.
• Cleaning and storage. Cats.com found plush outsides may be harder to clean. Most tunnels fold flat; check for a strap or ties to hold it closed.

The cat tunnels we list

SmartyKat Crackle Chute: best short, noisy tunnel

The SmartyKat Crackle Chute is a 34 x 9.5 x 9.5 inch tunnel that crackles with every step, with a side opening for hide-and-seek and chase. It has a lightweight spring frame that folds down for storage (SmartyKat).

Cats.com named it the best budget tunnel. Katelynn Sobus found it much noisier than the others on her list: good for most of her cats, but one cat was afraid of the noise, and the sound may annoy people too. Her cats ran through it and pounced on the string ties at the end. Another cat tried to eat the strings, so she suggests cutting them off or supervising play. The color is shipped at random. Cats.com gives the length as 35 inches; we go by SmartyKat’s own figure.

Best for: small rooms and cats that love crinkly toys. Skip if: your cat is nervous of noise or chews strings.

Happy & Polly Elves in the Rainbow: best long tunnel

The Happy & Polly Elves in the Rainbow Cat Tunnel measures 117 x 26 x 26 cm (about 46 x 10 x 10 inches), folds down in seconds, and has two peek holes and a toy at the entrance. Happy & Polly says its measurements were taken by hand and may be off by 2 to 3 cm, and it also sells semi-round and round bed versions (Happy & Polly).

Cats.com named it the runner up. Katelynn Sobus’s cats loved running through it, and her mother cat hid inside to sneak up on her, though the crinkling gave her away. She liked that it folds into a U shape to take less space and has a plush ball on each side. Her only complaint was that the plush outside may be difficult to clean.

Best for: homes with room for a longer tunnel and cats that dash and pounce. Skip if: you want something easy to wipe clean.

Coziwow Collapsible Cat Tunnel Bed: best tunnel and bed in one

The Coziwow Collapsible Cat Tunnel Bed joins a 10.6 inch U-shaped tunnel to a padded bed, for an overall size of 49.6 x 21.7 x 10.6 inches. Coziwow says it has built-in sound paper and toys, double-thickened fabric filled with PP cotton and a non-slip bottom, and that it folds up for storage or travel (Coziwow).

Cats.com named it the best tunnel and bed combo. Katelynn Sobus found it easy to put together with zippers, though she put it together upside down the first time. The lining crinkles, but it is on the quiet side compared with most tunnels. The bed is machine washable, and the bed and awning come off. Her cats did not use the bed while the awning was attached, because it flops down without support. Cats.com says it comes in five colors; Coziwow’s own page lists three.

Best for: cats that nap in covered spots, and noise-shy cats. Skip if: floor space is tight.

Other tunnels reviewers tried, named without links

• Lesure 2-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed: Cats.com’s overall best, a plush tunnel bed with a crinkly inside that can be set up as a ring, a U or an S. Lesure says it suits cats up to 15 lbs and the inner bed is machine washable. We could not find an Amazon product link for it on an independent review page, so we name it without a link.
• Pawaboo 4-Way Cat Tunnel: PetsRadar found it a tough, lightweight four-way tunnel for kittens and young cats, but noted the wire rings can come away from the fabric with frequent use and it can be a tight squeeze for adult cats. Pawaboo’s own store does not list this model at the moment, so we name it without a link.
• Tempcore Cat Tunnel Tube with Toy: a three-way tunnel with short 14 inch tubes and a small wand toy that Cats.com’s tester said her cats loved. We could not check a maker page for it.
• LUCKITTY glow-in-the-dark tunnel and Frisco Foldable Play Tunnel with Mesh: also tested by Cats.com, which notes reports that the Frisco falls apart quickly.
• Cattasaurus Peekaboo Cat Cave: a firm felt cave and tunnel that Cats.com says holds its shape better than most, but it is hand-wash only. The maker’s page gives no measurements, so we do not list it.

How to get your cat to use a tunnel

1. Let your cat explore first. Put the tunnel down where your cat already plays and leave it open. Do not push your cat inside.
2. Pull a toy through it. International Cat Care says interactive play can be even more stimulating for a kitten if boxes or tunnels are used to pull the toy through or around. A wand toy works well for this.
3. Hide a toy inside. Ohio State suggests hiding a toy under a cushion or blanket, or putting a paper bag or box on the floor, so your cat has to search for it. A tunnel is another place to hide one.
4. Keep games short. Cats Protection says very short games of one to two minutes are fine, with older cats playing three or four times a day and younger cats ten times a day or more. PDSA says to keep sessions short and give your cat time to rest in between.

Play safely

• Strings and ties. International Cat Care says toys made of ribbons or string should be avoided for kittens, because they can cause the intestines to bunch up if eaten, resulting in emergency veterinary care and surgery. PDSA says never to leave your cat unattended playing with string, thread, twine or wool. If a tunnel has string ties or a toy on a cord, play with your cat there, or take them off.
• If your cat swallows string. PetMD says to bring your cat to a vet or emergency clinic immediately, not to make your cat vomit, and not to pull on string you can see in the mouth.
• Check the frame. Spring-wire rings can work loose with heavy use, as PetsRadar found. Retire a tunnel if a wire end pokes through the fabric.
• Watch loose parts. Hanging balls and bells can come off. Cats.com’s tester took two foam balls away from a tunnel toy set after her cat tore them apart, because the foam could be dangerous if eaten.

If your cat seems sore, stiff or unwilling to play, ask your vet before you push for more exercise.

FAQ

Do cats like tunnels?

Most do. Cats Protection says cats love to climb and hide, and PDSA names a tunnel as one of the things cats can have hours of fun with. A wary cat may prefer a quieter tunnel or a box.

Are cat tunnels safe for cats?

The tunnel itself is low risk if it is the right size and in good repair. The risks are the extras: strings, ties and small toys that can be chewed off and swallowed. PDSA says never to leave a cat alone with string, and PetMD says a cat that swallows string needs a vet right away.

What size cat tunnel do I need for a large cat?

Look at the opening, not the length. Most tunnels are about 9.5 to 11 inches across, and PetsRadar found a 10 inch tunnel a tight squeeze for bigger cats. Compare the maker’s opening size with your cat and choose one with room to turn around.

How do I get my cat to use a tunnel?

Leave it out where your cat plays, then pull a wand toy through it, as iCatCare suggests, or hide a toy inside. Keep games short and never push your cat in.

How do you clean a cat tunnel?

Follow the maker’s label. Some tunnel beds, like the Coziwow and the Lesure, have a removable bed that is machine washable, according to Cats.com and Lesure. Plush outsides can be harder to clean, Cats.com found. For general toy hygiene, see how to clean dog and cat toys.

How do you fold a cat tunnel?

Most fabric tunnels have a spring frame: push the ends toward each other until it lies flat, then hold it closed with the strap or ties. Cats.com notes the SmartyKat’s string ties double as a way to tie it closed.

For more ways to keep an indoor cat busy, see the best toys for indoor cats, the best cat wand toy, the best cat trees for indoor cats and our dog and cat toys buying guide.