The Best Cat Tunnels

If your cat loves to hide, stalk and pounce, a tunnel is an easy way to add play at home. The Catit Vesper Tunnel is our top pick, because it pairs a soft tunnel with a padded cushion. Below are five foldable tunnels for different play styles.

Our picks at a glance

• Best overall: Catit Vesper Tunnel
• Best for hide-and-seek: Mad Cat Jumpin Jaws Shark 38” Tunnel
• Best motion-activated tunnel: KONG Play Spaces Rave Cave
• Best for play and hiding: KONG Play Spaces Burrow
• Best for easy setup: KONG Play Spaces Camper

The best cat tunnels

Best overallPhoto: Catit

Cat tunnels

Catit Vesper Tunnel

Best for: Cats who want a tunnel and a place to rest

This is a soft, open-ended tunnel with a peek-a-boo opening that holds a hanging pompom toy. It comes with a round padded cushion, and the maker says the fabric repels cat hair. It folds up for storage and needs no tools. The page lists no size, so check it before you buy for a large cat.

• Pro: Comes with a padded cushion for resting after play
• Pro: Hair-repelling fabric
• Pro: Folds up for storage, with no tools to assemble
• Con: Pompom toy is a small hanging part, so check it often
• Con: The page lists no dimensions, so check the size for a large cat

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Best for hide-and-seekPhoto: Petmate

Cat tunnels

Mad Cat Jumpin Jaws Shark 38" Tunnel

Best for: Cats who like to chase and ambush

This shark-themed tunnel is 38 inches long and has two smaller connected tunnels for chasing and ambushes. It has a crinkle element and a dangling plush tail to bat. The maker says it is made of non-toxic, odorless materials and folds down with ties. Skip it if you want to know the exact fabric, because the page doesn’t say.

• Pro: Two connected smaller tunnels for hide-and-seek
• Pro: Dangling plush tail for batting
• Pro: Folds down and stays compact with ties
• Con: Only one size
• Con: The page doesn't list the materials

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Best motion-activated tunnelPhoto: KONG

Cat tunnels

KONG Play Spaces Rave Cave

Best for: Energetic cats who like lights and sound

This tunnel plays music and flashes lights when your cat walks in. It also has a crinkle floor and a hanging disco ball. A switch turns off the music and lights, and three AAA batteries are included. KONG says to use it only with supervision. Skip it if your cat is startled by noise.

• Pro: Music and lights can be switched off for quiet play
• Pro: Crinkle floor and bat-able hanging disco ball
• Pro: Three AAA batteries included
• Con: Not for cats who are scared of noise or flashing lights
• Con: Use only with supervision, says the maker

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Best for play and hidingPhoto: KONG

Cat tunnels

KONG Play Spaces Burrow

Best for: Cats who like catnip and a cozy hideout

The Burrow is a crinkle tunnel with peek-a-boo windows. It can be a play toy or a quiet hideout. It has two catnip-filled attachments, a beaver and a butterfly. It measures 9.5 × 18 × 9.5 inches, so it is a smaller option. Skip it if your cat doesn’t care about catnip.

• Pro: Peek-a-boo windows for hide-and-seek
• Pro: Two catnip-filled attachments, a beaver and a butterfly
• Pro: Works for play or as a private hiding spot
• Con: Skip it if your cat doesn't react to catnip
• Con: Attachments can wear out, so check them

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Best for easy setupPhoto: KONG

Cat tunnels

KONG Play Spaces Camper

Best for: Cats who like peeking out of a small den

This camper-shaped den has a window, door and sunroof, and a dangling toy stuffed with catnip. KONG describes it as a one-piece, flexible design that is easy to set up and store. It pops open suddenly, so open it away from your face. It is about 20 inches long, so it suits a cat who likes a small den more than a long run.

• Pro: One-piece flexible design that is easy to set up and store
• Pro: Window, door and sunroof for peeking
• Pro: Dangling toy stuffed with catnip
• Con: Pops open suddenly, so open it away from your face
• Con: Skip it if your cat doesn't react to catnip

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How to choose a cat tunnel

Match it to how your cat plays

Some cats like to dash through and ambush. Look for a longer tunnel, or one with several openings, like the Mad Cat shark tunnel. Cats who like to hide may prefer a short den, like the Burrow or the Camper. If your cat likes to rest after play, a tunnel with a cushion, like the Catit Vesper, gives them a spot.

Check the size

Makers don’t always list the opening size, so read the product page. Pick a tunnel your cat can walk through without squeezing. A shorter den, like the 20-inch Camper, is more of a hideout than a run.

Think about noise and extras

Crinkle sounds, music and lights excite some cats and scare others. If you’re unsure, pick a quiet tunnel or one with an off switch. For a wider look at toys, see the best cat toys. If your cat also likes climbing, see the best cat trees.

Look at storage and cleaning

All five tunnels fold for storage, according to their makers. The Catit Vesper’s cushion is part of the set. Read the care notes for each one before you wash it.

Safety tips

• Check dangling parts. Cornell Feline Health Center says to avoid toys with small pieces or string-like parts, such as feathers and string, that a cat could bite off and swallow. Most of these tunnels have hanging toys, so look them over often.
• Supervise play. KONG says to use the Rave Cave only with supervision and to inspect it often.
• Stop using damaged tunnels. KONG says to stop using the Rave Cave if it is damaged. It is sensible to do the same with any tunnel.
• Open pop-up tunnels with care. The KONG Camper pops open suddenly. Open it away from your face and from fragile things.
• Keep the play area clear. Cornell says to keep heavy objects that could fall away from where your cat plays, and to watch for high spots where a distracted cat could fall.
• Rotate toys. Cornell suggests rotating toys so your cat doesn’t get bored.
• Skip toys with cords. Cornell says to avoid toys with electrical cords that a cat could chew.