What are the Best Cat Play Tunnels? Top Tunnel Toy System for Cats in 2020
By their nature, cats have a lot of curiosity for things that surround them. And the objects cats can get inside of, such as bags and boxes, tend to be especially fascinating for them. If your cat enjoys exploring such places, chances are that he or she will also appreciate a cat tunnel toy.
Satisfying the natural curiosity that all cats share, a well-chosen cat tunnel toy can help your cat to avoid boredom. Becoming a new part of your cat’s habitat, a cat tunnel toy can enrich your feline’s life with more diversity. And as such, a cat tunnel toy allows you to make your pet’s life more interesting.
Top 5 Cat Tunnels
Furthermore, as any toy that promotes more exploration, a high-quality cat tunnel can encourage your cat to be more active. As cats age, they tend to lose interest in toys that no longer challenge them. A high-quality cat tunnel toy provides your cat with new challenges and inspires your pet to move more.
Finally, a cat tunnel is an excellent toy for a multi-cat home. A well-designed cat tunnel toy gives your cats plenty of ways to spice up playing with each other. If your cats like to play hide-and-seek or ambush each other, a cat tunnel can become their new favorite toy.
Our guide will walk you through the seven top cat tunnel toys, going over the advantages and drawbacks of each. And determine which one of them our guide can recommend to you as the best cat tunnel.
Best Cat Tunnel List
① Crackle Chute Collapsible Tunnel Toy by SmartyKat
This cat tunnel toy by SmartyKat can boast of having a special interior that is hard for cats to resist. By producing a mysterious crackling sound, this rustling chute can naturally entice your cat to explore and enjoy the toy.
Thanks to the large side opening it features, this cat tunnel is easy and fun for cats to run through. If you have a multi-cat household, such a design is ideal for cats chasing after each other or playing hide-and-seek.
On top of the above features, this cat tunnel toy by SmartyKat is collapsible and lightweight. As a result, it is easy to set up and to fold flat for convenient storage.
Pros
Pros
- Entices cats with its built-in crackling sound.
- Has large side opening.
- Quick to set up and easy to store.
Cons
Cons
- Includes one tunnel only.
- Small parts inside may become loose or detached.
② Collapsible 3 Way Play Toy Cat Tunnel by Prosper Pet
This 3-way cat tunnel toy by Prosper Pet includes three spacious tunnels with additional special features that provide more entertainment. Namely, it contains a swinging bell toy and a peephole, and has one of the tunnels lined with crackly material.
In addition, this cat tunnel toy by Prosper Pet is made of durable polyester material that resists tears and snagging. Its built also includes a special rugged steel frame which helps to prevent tunnels from losing their shape with time.
Besides the above, this 3-way cat tunnel can boast of its collapsible design that makes both usage and storage simple. On top of that, this cat tunnel toy is washable and doesn’t collect a lot of hair.
Pros
Pros
- Has three spacious tunnels in one toy.
- Sturdy built.
- Comes in multiple colors.
Cons
Cons
- Contains small parts.
- May take up more space than some of its alternatives.
③ Collapsible 4-Way Cat Tunnel Toy by Purrfect Feline
Boasting its unique 4-way design, this cat tunnel toy includes four roomy 16″ long tunnel chutes with 9″ diameter openings. In total, the toy provides your cat or your cats with 64″ of tunnel to explore and have fun with.
At the same time, this cat tunnel by Purrfect Feline has interactive features that further entertain your pet or pets. Besides the four connected tunnel chutes, it also comes with a ball toy, crackle paper, and a peephole.
In addition, this cat tunnel toy is portable and made of durable polyester material supported by a steel frame. Furthermore, it is available in Large and X-Large sizes as well as in Dark Blue, Light Blue, and Pink colors.
Pros
Pros
- Unique and interactive 4-way cat tunnel design.
- Durable materials.
- Fits under 2″ in height when dismantled.
Cons
Cons
- May not suit areas with limited space.
- Has small parts.
④ Pet Toy Tunnel by CO-Z
Designed to entice pets to play, this pet toy tunnel by CO-Z has three tunnel chutes with special interactive features. Each of the chutes is around 10 inches tall and 13.7 inches long, and contains dangling ball on the exits.
Boasting its sturdy built, this tunnel toy is made of durable polyester material that is wrapped around a steel frame. On top of that, the ends feature special protective design that keeps pets safe as they play with the toy.
Along with the above features, CO-Z promises 100% satisfaction with its pet toy tunnel. And claims to provide a money-back guarantee as a result.
Pros
Pros
- Suitable for cats, dogs, and rabbits that weigh less than 12 lbs.
- Portable and durable design with pet safety in mind.
- Money-back guarantee.
Cons
Cons
- Not suitable for pets weighing more than 12 lbs.
- May not attach to other tunnel toys.
⑤ Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel by Frisco
Available in two length sizes, this cat tunnel toy by Frisco is ideal for multi-cat households. Its spacious 11-inch opening makes running through the tunnel and chasing each other easy and fun for cats. And the toy’s built-in crinkling sound, two windows, and a soft toy ball naturally entice cats to play.
Thanks to its soft suede fabric, this play tunnel is just as comfortable for napping as it is for playing. On top of that, the toy’s exterior has brown finish that fits in well with almost any décor. Despite its soft appearance, though, the tunnel chute uses a foldable spring-loaded frame for support and easy storage.
Pros
Pros
- Large 11-inch opening suitable for larger cats.
- Comes in 35-inch and 47-inch length sizes.
- Brown soft suede exterior suits any décor.
Cons
Cons
- May be less durable than polyester alternatives.
- Has a single tunnel chute version only.
⑥ Cat Crawl by Jackson Galaxy
Relying on metal frame for support, the Cat Crawl is made of nylon which is both tear and abrasion resistant. Thanks to its stylish spiral design, the toy folds flat without issues, lending itself easy to convenient storage and transportation.
More than that, the Cat Crawl features two distinct versions. The see-through mesh version of the toy is designed to be transparent and comes in blue and purple colors. Conversely, the solid nylon version has a non-transparent design and is available in green and orange colors.
In addition, the Cat Crawl by Jackson Galaxy is 10 inches in height and 35 inches in length. The toy is also compatible with the company’s Base Camp Hub and Base Camp Carrier.
Pros
Pros
- Comes in various colors.
- Available in see-through mesh and solid nylon versions.
- Made of durable nylon.
Cons
Cons
- Single tunnel chute only.
- No additional interactive features.
Conclusion & What is the Best Cat Tunnel
At first glance, all the cat tunnel toys that our guide has reviewed have similar features to offer. And some of them have more features to boast of than others. But more does not always equal better. With that said, we have selected the Crackle Chute by SmartyKat (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE) as our guide’s recommended choice.
Cats aren’t very fond of confined spaces, and the tunnel toys with multiple-way design may be confusing for some felines. Since the Crackle Chute by SmartyKat has only one tunnel, chances are your cat will love it from the get-go.
Containing rustling material and meeting child safety standards, the SmartyKat’s Crackle Chute is both enticing and safe to play with. And because it is collapsible and only 35-inches long, the Crackle Chute by SmartyKat is easy to store.
But don’t just take our word for it. Check out what makes the SmartyKat’s Crackle Chute superb on your own.
Do Cats Need Entertainment to Start With?
When your life has little room for healthy kinds of excitement, you can fall easy prey to boredom. And in this regard, there’s no difference between you and your feline. In fact, the environments that don’t provide adequate levels of physical and mental stimulation make cats very susceptible to boredom.
But how do you tell if your cat is suffering from boredom? Your cat is likely bored if you notice any or all of the following signs in your feline’s daily behavior:
- Being passive It is natural for cats to spend about two-thirds of the day doing nothing else but relaxing and sleeping. Such is the physiology of all felines. Yet, if your cat doesn’t get active beyond the time required for rest, chances are boredom may be the culprit.
- Grooming more than usual Cats have the universal reputation of being very meticulous about their hygiene. And grooming on a regular basis is only so natural for felines. But if you notice that your feline spends more time grooming than what seems necessary, your cat may be bored.
- Aggression towards other pets in the house There may be a set of reasons for why your cat behaves aggressively towards other pets in a multi-pet household. But boredom is a popular one among them. By acting this way, cats try to make up for the excitement that they otherwise lack.
- Eating too much food Binge eating is a common symptom of depression in humans. Food is a potent source of physical stimulation and can partially compensate for the general lack of excitement in life. There’s no reason why cats wouldn’t indulge in such behavior when bored.
- Moping around the house When we humans get bored, we often move around the house without doing anything in particular. Boredom in felines can manifest in much the same way. If your cat is moping around without engaging in any specific activity, he or she may be bored.
- Occasionally misbehaving on purpose Engaging in bad behaviors on purpose is yet another common symptom of boredom that we humans often show. By behaving this way, we try to excite ourselves at least somehow. Cats may misbehave intentionally for similar reasons.
As you can see, boredom catches felines as much as it does us humans. But enriching your cat’s environment with various forms of entertainment can help to effectively prevent your feline from getting bored. And a high-quality cat tunnel toy can be an important part of this solution.
What Makes Cat Tunnel a Good Toy for Felines?
There is certainly no shortage of cat toys available on the market. Not every type of toy, however, has the capacity to provide your feline with sufficient excitement and joy that lasts. Below, you will discover why a well-chosen cat tunnel toy can be a good addition to your feline entertainment toolkit.
As such, a cat tunnel toy that is carefully selected:
- Encourages more physical activity Most toys that are specially designed for felines ensure that cats get to be more active on a daily basis. Playing into natural feline curiosity in a variety of ways, high-quality cat tunnel toys manage to accomplish this especially well.
- Introduces a unique challenge Almost every high-quality cat tunnel toy contains a specially devised built-in layer that is made of rustling material. By producing an enticing crackling sound, such cat tunnel toys invite felines to play with them in a natural way.
- Channels aggression By their nature, cats are predators, and as such they can act rather aggressive towards other pets when they play. With the help of a well-chosen cat tunnel toy, you can channel this natural drive into safer forms of playing.
- Helps to prevent overeating It is common for cats to binge eat when they feel boredom from the lack of excitement in their life. By delivering novelty and promoting more movement, cat tunnel toys provide cats with both mental and physical stimulation, precluding overeating.
- Brings excitement If a cat toy is new, it is usually exciting for a feline to play with. Few cat toys, however, manage to sustain this excitement for extended periods of time. A well-designed cat tunnel toy can engage feline curiosity in a number of ways, remaining fun for a long time.
- Promotes better overall behavior At times, cats may go a bit too far in their explorations, playing with the things they’re not supposed to. By allowing cats to express their natural drive to explore, cat tunnel toys can contribute to improvements in feline behavior.
Without a doubt, every loving cat parent would want their feline to enjoy all of the above benefits. By and large, though, not every cat tunnel toy available on the market can deliver them to the fullest extent. With the help of the key criteria below, you will be able to spot the ones that can with ease.
How to Tell If a Cat Tunnel Toy Is Decent
Cat tunnel toys abound. And most of them offer similar functionality. How do you distinguish the best ones?
In a nutshell, the best tunnel toy for cats:
- Contains built-in sound attractant High-quality cat tunnel toys are made with special rustling materials that produce a crackling sound that entices cats to play. Conversely, cat tunnel toys of inferior quality don’t have this feature, showing little consideration for the way feline nature is.
- Includes single tunnel chute Cat tunnel toys that have a multiple-way design may seem to be more fun to play with for a feline. In reality, though, many cats do not enjoy walking themselves into confined areas that they have no clear escape from.
- Has spacious side opening When cat parents are away, cats do play. And if the tunnel’s opening is narrow for your cat, chances are the toy will move all over the place. Cat tunnel toys that have large side openings prevent this from taking place, keeping the toy in the same spot.
- Features lightweight portable design Best cat tunnel toys are made of lightweight materials and have a collapsible design that folds flat without any issues. Such a design makes them easy to store and transport, lending them easy to set up anywhere for your cat.
- Meets child safety standards Most cat tunnel toys contain small parts inside that may get dangerous for cats if they become loose. If a cat tunnel toy meets child safety standards, it keeps the risk of this scenario unfolding to the minimum.
Is there a cat tunnel toy among the ones our guide has reviewed that matches the above criteria? As a matter of fact, there is. And it’s the cat tunnel toy that we have chosen to recommend as the best one.
