Cats hunt from cover. A tunnel gives them somewhere to lie unseen, watch a doorway and launch out at whatever passes, which is why a strip of fabric on a spring frame holds a cat's interest far longer than most toys with batteries in them. It also gives a nervous cat a bolt-hole in the middle of a room, so the same object serves as both a game and a place to feel safe.

At 130cm this one is long enough for a proper run-through rather than a squeeze, in grey fabric that crinkles as your cat moves and keeps triggering the pounce response. Peep holes along the body let them look out or reach a paw through, and the open ends mean they can dash straight through without doubling back. The spring frame pops it open in seconds and folds it completely flat again for storage, and the fabric is built to take repeated claws.

• 130cm long for a full run-through
• Crinkle material that rustles underfoot
• Peep holes along the body
• Open at both ends
• Sprung frame: pops up and folds flat
• Durable fabric for repeated use

Two things worth knowing. Crinkle is divisive. Most cats find the noise irresistible and a minority are unnerved by it, so give a cautious cat a few days with the tunnel simply lying in the room before deciding it was a mistake. And it is a toy, not a chew: a cat who eats fabric or plays with the frame when nobody is watching should use it supervised only.

Who it's for: Indoor cats needing more to do, households with two cats who ambush each other, and shy cats who want somewhere to hide in company.