The Best Cat Tunnels For Indoor Cats

Providing your indoor cat with new ways to play is essential to keeping them happy and healthy. If you're looking for exciting and enriching toys, we recommend cat tunnels. They allow them to hide, stalk, and interact with you and other cats while providing a cozy place for them to nap and relax. You just have to pick which ones will fit in best with your crew.

What to Look For

We all want the best for our pets, which is why we recommend choosing durable cat tunnels that offer different textures and enrichment opportunities for your cats. For example, the Tempcore collapsible cat tunnel uses tear-resistant polyester with an enclosed steel frame to help it hold up to crazy kitties. It also has a cute little hanging ball toy for added fun. On the other hand, the super-sturdy Pet Craft Supply multi-cat tunnel crinkles and crackles to entertain your felines. Because every home and cat is unique, we have a few more options for you to check out below.

Tempcore Collapsible Cat Tunnel

Exciting and affordable

Save money while providing lots of fun for your indoor cats.
Best Overall

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This three-way collapsible cat tunnel from Tempcore is a fun, affordable toy for cats of all ages. The outer polyester fabric can handle the usual daily wear and tear, and it comes in several colors and designs to help you match the rest of your home’s style. Meanwhile, the encased foldable and poppable steel framing opens as often as you’d like without the worry of it losing shape.

Pros:

  • Three tunnels help cats play hide and seek with each other
  • Hanging fuzzy ball adds extra stimulation
  • Spacious design fits cats of any size
  • Easy to wash and dries quickly if your kitty makes a mess

Cons:

  • Cats can pull the ball off

Kitty City Cat Tunnel and Bed

Cozy comfort

A soft bed sits in the center of this round play tunnel.
Runner Up

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The Kitty City cat tunnel and bed set helps you provide your favorite feline with both a cozy spot to nap and a fun place to play. It features two entryways for playing tag and a dangling catnip toy to entice them. You can leave it open if you’d like. However, you can also wrap the tunnel around the bed, closing it up to create a soft nest in the center and a safely enclosed space inside.

Pros:

  • Assembly takes under five minutes
  • Very easy to spot clean and dries off fast to prevent mold
  • Cats of all ages and sizes fit just fine
  • Included bed holds up well to kneading and playing

Cons:

  • Lots of zippers to align during assembly

Eenk Cat Tunnel and Cube Bundle

Convenient fun

With this set, you can create an enriching play center in a flash and then take it back down just as quickly.
Best Pop-Up Design

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Two cube tents and a sturdy pop-up tunnel make this bundle from Eenk super fun for everyone. You can connect the cubes to either end of the tunnel or keep them separate. Either way, your cats will love running through and around them as they play tag and hide and seek. If you need to clear the space or settle your pets, you can collapse it all down and store it away in a cabinet or drawer until next time.

Pros:

  • Cube tents are big enough to add beds or cushions
  • You can connect several sets for a larger play place
  • Compact storage makes it great for small living spaces
  • Easy to assemble

Cons:

  • Rough cats can tear holes in the seams

Pet Craft Supply Multi-Cat Tunnel

Hide and seek

Sturdy materials and pop-out tunnels give your cats plenty of ways to play.
Best For Multiple Cats

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Crinkle sounds, bright colors, and peek-a-boo tunnels make the Pet Craft Supply multi-cat tunnel one of our favorite indoor cat toys. You can choose from Dizzy Dino, Magic Mewnicorn, or Tabby Tiger designs based on your style preferences. Each one has a large center tunnel, with four unframed offshoots that allow cats to stalk, jump, and run around each other. Meanwhile, the steel frame and thick polyester fabric keep it intact through all the action.

Pros:

  • Sturdy enough to last for years
  • Designed specifically for multiple cats to play together
  • Crinkle noise adds an extra layer of interest for most cats
  • Entertaining for pet parents to watch cats run through

Cons:

  • Ties for securing it closed are short

Malier Cat Tunnel Play Set

All-in-one action

An array of interactive toys and a three-way tunnel make this perfect for playful pets.
Best Set

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The Malier cat tunnel play set includes everything you need to create a kitty playground. A three-way tunnel with a little peephole at the top gives them plenty of space to run and chase each other while its little hanging ball attracts their attention. In addition, you get several balls in different styles, little feather mice, and more. You can throw everything into the tunnel to create a cat toy party or bring things out one at a time to mix things up.

Pros:

  • Interactive toys help you have fun with the cats instead of just watching
  • Sturdy tunnel frame keeps it in the correct shape
  • Collapsible for convenient storage
  • Lots of toys for an affordable price

Cons:

  • Tunnel frame can poke out of seams over time

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I leave the tunnel out or put it away between uses?

There are pros and cons to leaving your cat’s tunnel out all the time. The pros are that it ensures your cats get plenty of use from it while providing them with an extra hiding and sleeping spot. On the other hand, by hiding it between uses, you can keep it interesting and prolong your cat’s excitement.

How can I get my cat to play in a new tunnel?

If your cat doesn’t play in their new tunnel right away, you can try a couple of things. First, you can put food or treats inside. If that doesn’t work, using a laser pointer or teaser to lure them in may do the trick. If all else fails, let the dog try. That’s sure to get your cat’s sense of possession going.

About the Author

Chelsia has grown up with cats all her life and now has two of her very own. As a mom of five kids, Chelsia has lots of little tricks to share about caring for and training cats to live harmoniously with everyone else in the home. She also knows the latest gadgets to make caring for cats a breeze so you can spend more time with your loved ones and less time worrying about cleaning up after your furry friends.

Why Trust Us

Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.