If you want to know what is a cat tunnel you’ve come to the right place. In this post you’ll discover all about cat tunnels and why they’re so popular with felines.
Plus, I’ll be sharing a few of the best cat tunnels on offer at the moment, and how to pick the right one for your cat.
Basically, a cat tunnel is a tube with holes inside for popping out of. They’re usually made of soft material and come in varying lengths. You can buy cat tunnels specifically for indoors and they make a great addition to your cat’s toy collection.
Why cats love tunnels
There are many reasons why cats love tunnels, including a place to hide. If you’ve experienced bringing a new cat home, you’ll know how timid and frightened they can be.
Providing a cat tunnel gives your little one somewhere to hide. It can provide a safe haven, giving your kitty a feeling of security.
Cats are expert hunters and play helps to hone their skills. If your cat spends a lot of time indoors she won’t get the opportunity to hunt, and play is the next best thing.
Holes inside the tunnel provide great places to ambush from! Whether pouncing onto a toy or play fighting with siblings, cat tunnels can provide hours of fun.
As cat tunnels are easy to fold away and store you can always hide them when expecting visitors, or simply want to clean.
The following cat tunnels are what I consider the best based on my own opinions. I may receive a small commission for any sales made, but this in no way reflects the price you pay.
Cat Tunnel with Play Ball, Interactive Peek-a-Boo Cat Chute Cat Tube Toy, Camouflage S-Tunnel
This brightly colored cat tunnel has all the colors of the rainbow making it a fun accessory for your home! As it has an open ended design it would make a great toy for multiple cat households.
Kittens especially, love playing tag and chase, and an open ended tunnel provides the perfect place for peek a boo and play fighting.
You can even extend the tunnel by joining two together. This would make a wonderful play den for your fur family, and in addition, you could also place a few toys and treats inside.
A dangly toy that comes with the tunnel can be hung at the entrance giving your cat something to bat.
This will make a great incentive for timid cats to explore the tunnel and engage in play. As the cat tunnel has a reinforced spring extending the full length, it prevents collapse.
This ensures your cat plays in safety, ensuring both entrances keep open. The steel frame folds down easily making storage simple. In addition, you get a bag to conveniently store the tunnel.
As the tunnel is made from durable polyester it’s easy to clean. Also, it will stand up to the rough and tumbles of a typical fur family. The material makes a crinkle sound that many cats find great fun, encouraging them to pull at it.
Sharp claws can easily tear through many fabrics, but being durable it should last longer. The tunnel has two holes along it’s length allowing for ambushing and peek a boo antics.
Average rating 4.7 out of 5
You can buy Cat Tunnel with Play Ball here.
WESTERN HOME WH Cat Tunnel
This is a shorter tunnel, but can provide great fun for kittens and medium size cats. The fabric is polyester without the crinkly noise. At 11 inches wide, this should provide ample room for your cat unless she’s a larger breed.
A fluffy red ball that comes with the tunnel can be hung at the entrance. This encourages your cat to play and exercise. A spring steel frame provides support and prevents the tunnel from collapsing.
A hole in the centre of the tunnel provides a place for your cat to pounce from and survey her surroundings. As it can be folded easily, storage is a breeze.
Average rating 4.6 out of 5
Tempcore Cat Tunnel, Cat Tunnels for Indoor Cats, Tube Cat Toys 3 Way Collapsible, Kitty Tunnel
Tempore cat tunnel has 3 tubes with a hole in the centre. This makes a great activity toy for your cat, encouraging play and exercise. If you have multiple kitties they’ll enjoy playing tag and chase though the connecting tubes, and peek a boo through the hole!
The tunnel material is strong, tear resistant polyester. This should be enough to stand up to your kitty’s rough treatment. As with the other cat tunnels I’ve shared here, a strong steel frame prevents it from collapsing.
You get ball with a bell for hanging at a tunnel entrance, plus one of the tunnels has paper lining that makes a crinkly sound as your kitty moves. Most cats find this enormous fun, encouraging pouncing and play.
As Tempcore cat tunnel can be folded up easily, it’s simple and quick for storing out of sight. A few buyers found it a bit flimsy, but their cats didn’t seem to mind!
Average rating 4.5 out of 5
You can buy Tempore cat tunnel here
Trixie Pet Products for Cats nesting cat tunnel
Trixie pet nesting tunnel is lined with plush fabric, giving it a cosy feel for your little one. Sisal patches on the outer covering encourage your kitty to scratch and sharpen her claws. This can help save your furniture.
There are 2 condos in the tunnel providing snug places to sleep or play. A central hole allows your kitty to peek out and ambush her playmates or toys!
In addition you get 2 dangly toys at either end for your fur baby to play with. As the tunnel is sturdy it will hold it’s shape and not collapse. This makes it safe for your cat as she won’t get stuck.
The tunnel is retractable making it easy to store and put away when not in use. A few buyers noted the size of the holes. If you’re unsure if your cat will fit inside, it’s worth noting this isn’t designed for large breeds.
Average rating 4.4 out of 5
You can buy Trixie pet nesting tunnel here
AUOON Cat Tube and Tunnel with Central Mat for Cat Dog, Soft Plush Material and Full Moon Shaped, Length 98″ Diameter 9.8″, 2 Color
Aoon cat tube and tunnel can be unzipped creating two separate open ended tunnels. This provides great fun for two or more kittens as they can play tag and chase through the tunnels.
In addition you can also zip the tunnels together without joining as a complete circle. This gives your cats multiple ways of playing with this toy.
The central plush bed can be removed and washed,making it easy to keep clean. This tunnel is best suited for smaller cats and would be ideal for young kittens.
Average rating 4.6 out of 5
You can buy AUOON Cat Tube and Tunnel here
Pet Magasin Collapsible Cat Tunnel Toys (2 Pack)
Pet magasin brightly colored cat tunnels can provide hours of fun for your cat. You get one larger tunnel with a hole in the centre, and a smaller size tunnel. This gives your cat plenty of space to play.
A dangly toy hangs at the entrance on each of the tunnels to keep your cat entertained. In addition, crinkly material inside them makes a noise as your cat walks through. This can be fascinating to a cat and helps hold attention.
Placing toys inside the tunnels is a great way to keep your feline friend amused and out of mischief! If you have kittens this can provide the perfect playground. You’ll have great fun watching them play tag as they chase one another through the tunnels.
Average rating 4.7 out of 5
You can buy Pet magasin collapsible cat tunnel here
Speedy Pet Collapsible Cat Tunnel, Cat Toys Play Tunnel Durable Suede Hideaway Pet Crinkle Tunnel with Ball,12 inch Diameter
Speedy pet cat tunnel is ideal for larger cats, and provides a cosy hideaway to sleep or play. As it has hook and loop attachments on both ends you can join several together.
This would create a fun adventure playground for your furry friend, especially if you place a few toys inside. Faux suede fabric covering the outside gives the tunnel a luxurious appearance. In addition, the sturdy design keeps the tunnel’s shape even after a battering from your kitty!
A removable furry ball gives your cat something to play with, and an opening in the centre provides a peek hole. In addition, crinkle fabric lining the tunnel adds to your cat’s sensory experience.
As the tunnels can be taken apart again quick and easily, you’ll find it simple to store. Whether you buy one or several tunnels, folding them up should be simple and quick. As the color is a neutral grey it should complement most decor.
Average rating 4.8 out of 5
You can buy Speedy Pet Collapsible Cat Tunnel here
Should you get your feline friend a cat tunnel?
Now you know what is a cat tunnel you’ll understand why they can be a great hit with our feline friends. Of course there’s no guarantee your cat will venture inside a tunnel, and it could even be a one hit wonder.
However, many pet parents find their cats enjoy playing or sleeping in them. Just like igloo cat beds they provide a cosy, enclosed space which felines love.
Placing a few cat toys inside the tunnel can help tempt your kitty, as well of course as a few treats! Even seniors can benefit from a cat tunnel. Although golden oldies may not be quite so energetic, they still love cosy hideaways.
I hope the cat tunnels I’ve shared here with you have given inspiration. All are very portable and easy to store out of sight when not in use. Always check the size of the tunnel before making a purchase. The ones I’ve shared here should be fine for an average to bigger size kitty. If you have a large breed cat you’ll probably find Speedy cat collapsible tunnel the best option.
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In addition, if you have any questions, or would like to share your experiences, please leave a comment below.
Wishing you a purrfect day:)
Kathy
To be honest I’m not a cat person. Although I find them really cute and adorable, especially kittens ?, I prefer to watch them from afar.
These tunnels are all pretty! Thanks for detailed review. If I would suggest to a friend of mine who’s a cat lover, I would go for the Tempcore Tunnel.
The 3-connecting tunnels make it to look more unique and I bet a feline friend will definitely like it.
Thank you Mina, glad you enjoyed the review of cat tunnels even though you don’t have a cat. Yes, Tempore cat tunnel could be great fun for a kitty as there are 3 tunnels to explore and play in. Thanks for stopping by:)
Hi Kathy,
A well-written post. We have a cat called Denise, and we recently bought a cat tree for her and I see this cat tunnel as the next logical purchase for our furball lol. I like that 3-way tunnel. I have a feeling that Denise would too.
Shaun.
Thank you Shaun, yes, I’m sure Denise would love the 3 way Tempcore cat tunnel:) It would certainly complement the tree you bought her! Glad you enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by
Wow! That cat from the first image in your post is so cool. It’s white and the eyes are a different colour. Aweoms. Thanks for sharing this post about cat tunnels. I was thinking about these a while ago, and my research leads me to your site once again.
My favourite is Trixie pet nesting tunnel. It looks like it’s perfect for playing as well as for resting and sleeping. Thanks again for sharing. I’ll definitely look into one of these and will consider buying one too. Keep up the good work!
Hi Ivan, glad you enjoyed this post. Yes, Trixie pet nesting tunnel is a great choice as it provides a cosy place to sleep as well as play. Thanks for stopping by:)
Wow, I didn’t have idea there are so many choices! I do not have a cat but I am gonna forward this post to my auntie. She’s a true cat lover and I think after reading your post, she’s won’t struggle what to get as a Christmas present for her cat!
Thank you Olabee, so glad you enjoyed this post, and I’m sure your auntie will enjoy it as well. Yes, a cat tunnel makes an ideal gift:)
Hi Kathy,
The cat tunnel sounds great because activities that let cat express their natural hunting instincts helps to keep their mind alert and active.
Providing them with appropriate resources so they can play, engage, hunt, stalk, and cat tunnel will definitely help them. All varieties of cat tunnels illustrated with pictures look amazing and so well designed.
The appeal of the tunnel designed especially for cats so they feel enthusiastic for small and dark spaces our furry friends will definitely love it!
Thanks for the information
Have a Nice Day!
Hi Samantha, glad you enjoyed this post:) Yes, cat tunnels definitely bring out a cat’s natural hunting instinct. Pouncing, and jumping through holes in the tunnel allow for stalking which is part of the cat’s natural instinct for catching prey. Thanks for stopping by:)
Hey Kathy! Unfortunately, one of our two tomcats, Charlie, died back in 2018 and the other one, Speedy, had to move to one of our neighbours back then, because our son developed an allergy against cats. That was sad… But: The two used to love cat tunnels, we had one similar to the Speedy Pet Collapsible Cat Tunnel (ours was red, though)! I hope your article reaches many cat-lovers out there! All the best, Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story:) Sorry to hear your son developed an allergy, but pleased to hear your cats loved their tunnels. You could always think about a Sphynx, or Russian Blue, as apparently. they’re easier to live with if you’re allergic to cats. Thanks for stopping by:)