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9 Best Cat Tunnels – 2024 Reviews and Top Picks

Hallie Roddy

By Hallie Roddy

KONG Active Nylon Tunnel Cat Toy Cats love nothing more than to prowl around, hide in dark corners, and sneak attack their victims when they least expect it. While this is a luxury that many outdoor cats get, indoor cats don’t always have the ability to feel like their wild animals. Buying your cats a tunnel is a perfect option if you’re trying to give them a couple more places to hide around the house.

There isn’t anything worse than buying a fancy new toy to have your cats be interested for a total of five minutes before deciding they don’t want anything to do with it again. The goal is to find a tunnel that has other bells and whistles to keep them interested Read through our reviews of the best cat tunnels on the market to find which one is most likely to attract your cats.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Frisco Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel Frisco Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel
  • Soft material
  • Crinkle and hanging ball
  • Two window holes
  • Best Value
    Second place
    SmartyKat Crackle Cat Tunnel Toy SmartyKat Crackle Cat Tunnel Toy
  • Affordable
  • Collapsible
  • One window
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Feline Ruff 4-Way Cat Tunnel Feline Ruff 4-Way Cat Tunnel
  • Collapsible
  • Crinkle material
  • Two hanging balls
  • Best for Kittens
    Frisco Peek-a-Boo Chute Cat Tunnel Frisco Peek-a-Boo Chute Cat Tunnel
  • Cheap
  • Crinkle balls included
  • Ideal for many kittens
  • Four Paws Super Catnip Crazy Pants Cat Toy Tunnel Four Paws Super Catnip Crazy Pants Cat Toy Tunnel
  • Catnip liner
  • Unique design
  • Two tunnels
  • The 9 Best Cat Tunnels

    1. Frisco 47-inch Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel – Best Overall

    Frisco 47-in Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel

    Dimensions 47 x 11 x 11 inches
    Features Crinkle
    Material Polyester

    Finding the best overall cat tunnel is tricky. We think this Frisco 47-inch-long cat tunnel ticks all the boxes. The entire tunnel has a foldable, spring-loaded frame that allows for easy storage. Unlike other tunnels, this one is lined with a softer material that covers a polyester lining to make crinkling noise when your cats move through it. Some cats love the crinkle, and others don’t. It often annoys some owners.

    This tunnel comes equipped with two windows for your cat to peek through, as well as a hanging ball for extra appeal. While it only comes in one color, the neutral brown material fits in well with most home interiors.

    Pros
    • Soft material
    • Crinkle and hanging ball
    • Two window holes
    • Neutral color
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Crinkly noise too loud for some pets/humans

    2. SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Cat Tunnel Toy – Best Value

    SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Tunnel

    Dimensions 35 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches
    Features Crinkle
    Material Plastic

    Is it too much to ask for an affordable cat tunnel with all the bells and whistles as the more expensive ones? This SmartyKat Crackle Tunnel is the best cat tunnel for the money. It comes with crinkle material and one window for cats to sneak through. It is also completely collapsible with ties to keep it secure when folded. While it is great for a budget, it isn’t so great for extra-large cat breeds that might not be able to fit easily into the smaller tunnel hole.

    Keywords must be used: best Cat Tunnel for the money

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Crackle material on inside
    • Collapsible
    • One window
    Cons
    • Too small for large breeds
    • No hanging ball

    3. Feline Ruff Premium 4-Way Cat Tunnel – Premium Choice

    Feline Ruff Premium 4-Way Collapsible Tunnel Cat Toy

    Dimensions 56 x 56 x 12 inches
    Features Crinkle
    Material Polyester

    Be prepared to see your cats go wild when you drag in the Feline Ruff premium 4-way tunnel. This cat tunnel has four entry points to keep cats entertained for hours. Even though it is too large for some rooms, it is collapsible down to the size of a frisbee.

    This choice is more expensive, but the holes have an extra-large opening for all cat sizes, plus it comes with a free teaser wand and has two hanging balls for them to play with. There is also a peephole in the center if they prefer to stay more hidden.

    Pros
    • Collapsible
    • Crinkle material
    • Two hanging balls
    • 4-way entry
    • Free cat teaser wand
    Cons
    • Too large for small spaces
    • Expensive
    • Noisy

    4. Frisco Peek-a-Boo Chute Cat Tunnel – Best for Kittens

    Frisco Peek-a-Boo Cat Chute Cat Toy

    Dimensions 18 x 9.5 inches
    Features 3-way
    Material Polyester

    This Frisco 3-way tunnel is a great option if you’ve got small kittens running around. This is large enough for the entire litter to play in. Because the material doesn’t crinkle, it won’t get too noisy around the house. The size of the tunnel isn’t ideal for some customers. It does fold down, though. Plus, it has crinkle balls for them to play with.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Quiet
    • Crinkle balls included
    • Ideal for many kittens
    Cons
    • Large
    • Not suitable for larger cats
    • More difficult to fold

    5. Four Paws Super Catnip Crazy Pants Cat Toy Tunnel

    Four Paws Super Catnip Crazy Pants Cat Tunnel Toy

    Dimensions 11 x 12.5 x 2 inches
    Features Crinkle, catnip
    Material Polyester

    This tunnel is a fun shape that was designed to look like pants. While the look of the tunnel may not be for everyone, it does feature a catnip-lined inside that the kitties can’t resist. The tunnels are similar to other collapsible tunnels, but they might be too small for some larger cats. The increased price is mainly due to the catnip liner. Still, many owners find it worth the few extra bucks.

    Pros
    • Catnip liner
    • Unique design
    • Two tunnels
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Too small for larger cats
    • Noisy

    6. Pet Magasin Collapsible Cat Tunnel

    Pet Magasin Collapsible Cat Tunnel Toys

    Dimensions 35 x 10 x 10 inches
    Features Outdoor, crinkle
    Material Polyester

    You might think about picking up this cat tunnel 2-pack if you’ve got multiple felines in the house. These tubes are two different sizes to fit cats of all needs. Each tunnel features a hanging ball for playtime and crinkly fabric to keep them excited. The colors are bright and fun, although they won’t fit everyone’s taste.

    Pros
    • Two tunnels
    • Two different sizes
    • Hanging balls
    Cons
    • Cheap material
    • Bright colors not ideal for all homes
    • Noisy

    7. KONG Nylon Cat Tunnel

    KONG Active Nylon Tunnel Cat Toy

    Dimensions 24 x 11 x 2 inches
    Features Crinkle, squeaky
    Material Polyester

    KONG has gotten its reputation for making unique-shaped dog toys that can be filled with treats to keep dogs occupied for hours. Many cat lovers don’t realize that they make products for cats as well. This tunnel allows cats to run, hide, or play peek-a-boo through a central window. It is collapsible and made from a durable material, but it is more expensive than many other tunnels and is only 9 inches in diameter. If you’ve got a big breed or a cat on the chunkier side, you know this won’t be ideal for them.

    Pros
    • Collapsible
    • Durable material
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Too small for all cats
    • Only one hole

    8. Ware Nylon Fun Cat Tunnel

    Ware Nylon Fun Tunnel Cat Toy

    Dimensions 11 x 53.5 x 11 inches
    Features Crinkle
    Material Nylon

    While this tunnel has a simple design, there are arguments that it is too simple. The color is brown on the outside and green on the inside, resembling colors of the outdoors to help your cat get in touch with its inner tiger. It is also much longer than many other tunnels on the market. However, the tube size is rather small, and the nylon material isn’t as durable as the typical polyester material. It’s not the most durable and, because of that, it makes a lot of people question the high price point.

    Pros
    • Long tunnel
    • Resembles the outdoors
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Skinny tunnel
    • Non-durable material

    9. HDP Collapsible Tunnel Cat Toy

    HDP Collapsible Tunnel Cat Toy

    Dimensions 50 x 11 x 11 inches
    Features Crinkle
    Material Nylon

    This cat tunnel looks very similar to the previous Ware cat tunnel. This tunnel has a lower price and has a wider opening. Still, it is rather loud and made from the same cheap nylon material that won’t last long against sharp cat claws. Even with the crinkle feature to attract cats, it’s too loud for many humans and even some cats.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Wide tunnel
    Cons
    • Cheap material
    • Noisy
    • Unappealing colors

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    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Tunnel

    Buying cat tunnels is a pretty straightforward process. The biggest part is making sure that the tunnel is big enough for your cat to move through. Once you know that it is large enough, you can start to focus on other aspects that you want or don’t want. Do you prefer a more durable material like polyester, or are you okay with nylon? Do you want your cats to have multiple hanging balls and holes, or are they okay with non? Do you care that the tunnel collapses for storage? We have confidence that these are all things that you can quickly decide.

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    Final Thoughts

    These reviews have featured our top picks for the best cat tunnels. The best overall was made by Frisco. The best for your money was the SmartyKat crackle chute. Even though there are tons of more options, you can’t go wrong with any of these excellent choices that cats love.

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