SmartyKat Crackle Chute Cat Tunnel

A short, crackly fabric tunnel with a large side opening that folds flat on a spring frame.

Who it suits

Cats that like noisy toys, and small rooms where a short tunnel fits better than a long one.

Key facts

• Crackles with every step, with a side opening for hide-and-seek and chase games (SmartyKat)
• Collapsible lightweight spring frame that folds down for storage (SmartyKat)
• One size: 34 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches (SmartyKat)
• String ties on one end that can tie the folded tunnel closed (Cats.com)

What reviewers say

Cats.com: Katelynn Sobus bought and tested it with her own cats for Cats.com’s cat tunnel guide (updated March 2026) and named it the best budget pick. She found it much noisier than the other tunnels she tried, which most of her cats liked, though one cat was afraid of the noise. Her cats ran through it, peeked out of the center opening and pounced on the string ties, but one cat tried to eat the strings. She was sent a random color (teal instead of the red pictured) and called it a basic tunnel with little versatility. Cats.com gives the length as 35 inches; SmartyKat’s own page says 34 inches.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Short, so it fits small spaces, per Cats.com
• Loud crackle that many cats like
• Folds flat and ties shut with its strings

Cons

• Too noisy for some cats and people, per Cats.com
• Color is shipped at random, per Cats.com
• 9.5 in opening is on the narrow side for big cats

Good to know

• Watch your cat with the string ties. If your cat chews them, cut them off; PetMD says a cat that swallows string needs a vet right away (https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-heath/what-to-do-if-your-cat-has-eaten-string).
• Leave it out where a nervous cat can walk away from the noise, and do not push a cat inside.