The 11 Best Cat Tunnels for Hiding, Playing, and Napping

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Your cat is a born predator, and the best way to honor them is to give them opportunities to entertain their wild side. Cat tunnels encourage interactive play and stimulate your cat’s instincts for stalking and hunting. They’re great for games of hide-and-seek between cats but can also make for a cozy spot to curl up for a nice, long nap.

There’s no shortage of cat play tunnels on the market. Considering your cat’s preferences for shapes, sounds, and textures can help you make the right choice.

We’ve compiled a list of the 11 best cat tunnels for hiding, playing, and napping to help you find the perfect product for your cat.

• Best Overall: TRIXIE Cuddly Condos with Tunnel
• Best Value: Frisco Plush, Teaser, Ball & Tri-Tunnel Variety Pack
• Best for Kittens: Hartz Just for Cats Peek & Play Pop-Up Tent Cat Toy
• Best for Rowdy Cats: SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Activity Play Mat
• Best Large Cat Tunnel: Kitty City Large Cat Tunnel Bed
• Best Extra-Long Cat Tunnel: Ownpets U Shape Tunnel Cat Toy
• Best Tunnel Bed: Catit Vesper Cat Tunnel
• Best Outdoor Cat Tunnel: Outback Jack Kitty Compound Cat Playpen Tent & Tunnel
• Best Scratcher Tunnel: Petstages Fold Away Cat Tunnel Toy
• Best Crinkle Tunnel: SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Tunnel
• Best Lighted Tunnel: Petlinks Twinkle Chute Lighted Cat Tunnel Toy

Best Overall: TRIXIE Cuddly Condos with Tunnel

While many play tunnels for cats are made from lightweight materials and fold flat for storage, this cat condo from TRIXIE is a more permanent fixture in the home. The long tunnel-like shape is perfect for play, but it also provides snug and secure places for your cat to sleep.

Both ends of the tunnel are rigid in construction, which enhances stability. As a bonus, sisal pads cover the sides of each end to accommodate scratching. Though this product doesn’t fold down flat, one end is slightly smaller than the other, so you can slide them together into a more compact shape.

What we like:

• Rigid ends provide stability and structure
• Provides space for play and a cozy spot for sleeping
• Both ends are covered in sisal for scratching

Things to consider:

• Not ideal for travel or compact storage
• Fairly expensive at over $50

Best Value: Frisco Plush, Teaser, Ball & Tri-Tunnel Variety Pack

Cat play tunnels aren’t typically expensive, but why settle for just the tunnel when you can go for a variety pack that includes over a dozen different cat toys? This Frisco tunnel costs under $20 and comes with an assortment of toys including mice, balls, plushies, wands, and more. The T-shaped tunnel comes in three colors and features a peekaboo hole in the middle.

What we like:

• Affordably priced under $20
• Comes with an assortment of 20 cat toys
• Collapses down for easy storage

Things to consider:

• May be too small for large cats

Best for Kittens: Hartz Just for Cats Peek & Play Pop-Up Tent Cat Toy

It’s important to expose your kitten to new experiences while they’re still young, and a play tunnel is a great choice. This pop-up tent toy from Hartz is appropriately sized for kittens and features several holes for games of peekaboo. Remember, kittens have sharp nails—this toy should only be used under supervision. Simply fold it down for storage between uses.

What we like:

• Appropriately sized for small kittens
• Several holes for games of peekaboo
• Hanging ball toy to encourage active play

Things to consider:

• Only recommended for supervised play
• Not suitable for adult cats

Best for Rowdy Cats: SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Activity Play Mat (Verified Review)

Cats have sharp teeth and even sharper claws, so a plastic or polyester play tunnel simply might not be durable enough for rough play. Until your cat learns to play gently, an activity mat like the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug might be more appropriate. Constructed from durable carpet fibers, this activity mat features folds and holes that stimulate your cat’s senses and engage their natural instincts much like a tunnel would. Test cat Peaty was a huge fan.

What we like:

• Made from durable carpet fibers
• Folds and holes activate your cat’s instincts
• Can be folded up for transport and storage

Things to consider:

• Carpet fibers will collect cat hair
• Not machine washable

Best for Large Cats: Kitty City Large Cat Tunnel Bed

The average tunnel toy for cats measures between 9 and 10 inches in diameter, but this model from Kitty City offers a whopping 12.5 inches, making it a good choice for cats of different sizes. It’s also unique with its round, donut-like shape. Because it’s circular, the body of the tunnel creates a comfy bed in the middle where your cat can sleep.

What we like:

• Generous 12.5-inch diameter
• Circular shape doubles as a cat bed
• Two points of entry and a hanging toy

Things to consider:

• Two separate pieces must be zipped together
• Included bed could be more thickly padded

Best Extra-Long Cat Tunnel: Ownpets U Shape Tunnel Cat Toy

If you’re looking for a tunnel toy that gives your cat ample place to play, this three-way collapsible model from Ownpets is a great pick. It combines the conventional T-shaped tunnel with a U-shaped extension to deliver nearly 60 linear inches of tunnel. With all that extra space, this tunnel accommodates multi-cat play. Plus, the oxford fabric material is more durable than plastic or nylon.

What we like:

• Provides nearly 60 inches of linear space
• Made from durable oxford fabric
• Three exits and a peekaboo hole in the center

Things to consider:

• Wire may wear through the fabric over time
• Not significantly wider than other tunnels

Best Tunnel Bed: Catit Vesper Cat Tunnel

While some cats like to sleep in enclosed spaces for security, others prefer to be out in the open. The Vesper Cat Tunnel from Catit appeals to both preferences. It consists of a U-shaped extension with a round pad inside the curve that serves as a comfy cat bed. The tunnel itself is made from snag-resistant polyester, and the accordion-like design makes it easy to collapse down for storage.

What we like:

• Made from snag-resistant polyester material
• Combines a tunnel toy and cat bed
• Accordion-like design collapses flat for storage

Things to consider:

• Bed could be more thickly padded

Best Outdoor Tunnel: Outback Jack Kitty Compound Playpen Tent & Tunnel

Cats are curious creatures endlessly fascinated by the outside world. Unfortunately, outdoor cats can be exposed to serious risks from cars, dogs, disease, and wild animals. This playpen tent and tunnel combo from Outback Jack enables your kitty to experience the outdoors while remaining safely contained. Just keep in mind that because the primary material is mesh, your cat should enjoy their time outside under supervision.

What we like:

• Keeps your cat safely contained while outside
• Zippered doors for easy access
• Combines a wide tunnel and a spacious playpen

Things to consider:

• Should only be used under supervision
• Requires some assembly

Best Scratcher Tunnel: Petstages Fold Away Cat Tunnel Toy

If the typical play tunnel doesn’t interest your cat, consider a cat scratcher tunnel that gives them a chance to stretch out and use their claws instead. This product consists of two double-sided cardboard scratchers connected with a piece of soft flannel. You can lay the scratcher out flat, prop it up against a wall, or assemble it into a tent shape to create a cozy hideaway for your cat.

What we like:

• Provides a healthy outlet for scratching
• Can be assembled in a tent shape or laid flat
• Soft flannel flooring for napping

Things to consider:

• Can be messy as the cardboard shreds
• Large cats may not fit in the tunnel

Best Crinkle Tunnel: SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Tunnel

Made from lightweight plastic materials, this tunnel makes an irresistible crinkling sound when your cat moves through it. The tunnel measures a generous three feet in length and features a large side opening for your cat to peek their head through. After playtime is over, simply compress the spring-wire frame to fold it flat for easy storage.

What we like:

• Plastic materials make an enticing crinkling sound
• Lightweight and collapses flat for storage
• Large side opening for games of hide-and-seek

Things to consider:

• Thin material may tear and expose wire
• May not be wide enough for large cats

Best Lighted Tunnel: Petlinks Twinkle Chute Lighted Cat Tunnel Toy

Cats love a crackly surface, but this model from Petlinks goes above and beyond the typical cat toy with the addition of touch-activated lighting. Your cat’s senses will be illuminated with every move they make, but they’ll also come to appreciate the tunnel as a cozy place to curl up and nap. Best of all, at under $15, this tunnel toy won’t break the bank.

What we like:

• Material makes an appealing crackling sound
• Touch-activated lighting for sensory stimulation
• Collapses flat for easy storage

Things to consider:

• May be too small for large cats
• Lights may not work consistently

How We Chose

The cat tunnels featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We chose cat tunnels that were designed to engage your cat’s natural instincts and stimulate their desire for play. We were also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated kitties, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• The 19 Best Cat Toys in Every Style, for Every Kind of Cat
• Do Cats Need Puzzle Toys? What Science Says About Interactive Cat Toys and Feeders
• The 18 Best Cat Beds in Every Style: Orthopedic, Cave, Self-Warming, and More