Have a cardboard box sitting around? Before you recycle it, you can turn it into something your cat may appreciate much more: a DIY cat tunnel! 🐱📦

This easy project transforms one long cardboard box into a homemade cat tunnel complete with an adorable cat-shaped entrance and peekaboo windows along the sides.

And here's my favorite part: you don't even need a special template to make the cat-shaped doorway. A simple pot or pan lid does most of the work!

It's inexpensive, customizable, and a fun way to give an ordinary cardboard box one more life before it heads to the recycling bin.

Ready? Let's make it!

 

Why Make a DIY Cat Tunnel?

Cats are naturally drawn to enclosed spaces. A tunnel can give them another place to hide, investigate, watch what's happening around them, and incorporate stalking and pouncing into playtime.

The side windows in this cardboard cat tunnel make it even more interactive. Your cat can peek through them, reach a paw through during play, or watch a toy move past while remaining hidden inside.

And because we're starting with a cardboard box you may already have at home, this is also a budget-friendly way to introduce something new into your cat's environment.

Of course, there is always the possibility that your cat will be more impressed by the original cardboard box than by all your hard work.

That's part of crafting for cats. 😂

 

What You'll Need to Make a DIY Cat Tunnel

You only need a few basic supplies:

• One long, sturdy rectangular cardboard box
• A round pot or pan lid
• Pencil or marker
• Ruler
• Cardboard-safe cutting tool
• Strong tape
• Pet-safe, non-toxic paint if you plan to decorate it
• Paintbrushes
• Optional pet-safe decorative supplies

Choose a box that gives your cat enough room to comfortably enter and move through the tunnel.

The cardboard should be clean, dry, and sturdy. Remove shipping labels, loose tape, staples, plastic, string, and anything else your cat could potentially pull off, chew, or swallow.

 

How to Make a DIY Cat Tunnel From a Cardboard Box

Step 1: Start With a Long Cardboard Box

The easiest part about this project is that the box itself becomes the tunnel.

There's no need to build a complicated frame or assemble multiple boxes.

Choose a long rectangular cardboard box and securely close the flaps.

Before continuing, check the entire box for staples, exposed tape, sharp pieces, or other potentially unsafe materials.

 

Once it's secure, you're ready to create the entrance.

Step 2: Trace the Cat-Shaped Door 🐱

Here's the little trick that makes this DIY cat tunnel especially cute.

Instead of trying to draw a perfect cat head freehand, grab a round pot or pan lid from your kitchen.

Place the lid against one of the short ends of your cardboard box and trace around it.

That circle becomes the cat's head.

Next, draw two triangles at the top of the circle to create the ears.

That's it!

Circle + two triangle ears = an adorable cat-shaped doorway.

Before cutting, double-check that the finished opening will be large enough for your cat to comfortably walk through without squeezing.

Step 3: Cut Out the Cat Entrance

 

Carefully cut around the cat-head outline you just created.

You should now have a doorway with a rounded head and two pointed cat ears at the top.

Check the entire opening carefully.

Smooth or trim any rough cardboard edges and make sure there aren't any sharp pieces your cat could rub against when entering or exiting the tunnel.

 

And suddenly, that ordinary shipping box is starting to look much more interesting!

Step 4: Add Peekaboo Windows 🐾

Now let's make the tunnel more interactive.

Draw several circles along the long sides of the box.

You can use another round household object as a guide if you'd like your windows to be consistent.

Carefully cut out each circle.

Your cat now has little peekaboo windows along the tunnel.

Just don't go overboard with the number or size of the openings. Removing too much cardboard can weaken the structure of the box.

The goal is to create a few fun openings while keeping the tunnel sturdy.

Step 5: Give Your Cat Tunnel a Safety Check

Before decorating your DIY cat tunnel, stop and inspect the structure.

Gently press on the sides and top.

Check that:

• The box remains sturdy
• The tunnel doesn't collapse easily
• The entrance is large enough for your cat
• The peekaboo windows haven't weakened the structure
• There are no staples or exposed sharp pieces
• There isn't any loose tape your cat can chew
• The cut edges are reasonably smooth

If anything feels unstable, reinforce the structure before continuing.

At this point, Part 1 is complete! 🎉

You officially have a functional cardboard cat tunnel.

Now we get to make it cute.

Part 2: Paint and Decorate Your DIY Cat Tunnel 🎨

You could absolutely stop here and let your cat enjoy the plain cardboard version.

But where's the fun in that?

For Part 2 of our Cats Ace DIY cat tunnel, we're turning that plain brown cardboard into a finished cat playground.

You can paint the outside, highlight the adorable cat-shaped entrance, add paw-print details, or create your own design.

This is where you can make the project completely yours.

A Note About Paint

If you decide to paint your cat tunnel, choose a non-toxic, pet-safe product suitable for the material and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Allow the tunnel to dry and air out completely before your cat has access to it.

Never allow your cat to lick, chew, walk through, or play with the project while the paint is wet.

Also avoid loose embellishments such as beads, buttons, ribbons, string, or small decorations that could detach and become a choking or ingestion hazard.

Cute is good.

Cute and safe is better.

 

Make Your Cat Tunnel Even More Fun

Once your tunnel is completely finished, dry, and safe, it's time for the most important part:

The cat test. 🐱

Place the tunnel somewhere your cat already feels comfortable and let them investigate it on their own.

Don't place your cat inside or force them through the entrance.

Instead, make exploration part of the game.

You could try:

• Moving a wand toy past one of the peekaboo windows
• Rolling a lightweight toy near the entrance
• Letting your cat hide inside during play
• Moving a toy past one side of the tunnel so your cat can stalk it
• Playing peekaboo through the windows

One of the fun things about adding side openings is that the tunnel becomes more than somewhere to walk through.

It can become a little hide-and-pounce zone.

And if a paw suddenly shoots through one of those windows while you're walking past?

Consider yourself warned. 😂

 

Why We Love Cardboard DIY Cat Projects

Cardboard might be one of the most underrated cat-project materials.

It's inexpensive, easy to find, relatively easy to work with, and can be transformed into all kinds of enrichment projects.

A cardboard box can become a tunnel today, a scratcher tomorrow, or even an interactive puzzle.

And if your cat destroys your creation after happily using it?

Around here, we don't necessarily consider that a failed DIY.

We call that a five-star cat review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Have More Cardboard? Make This Next!

Don't recycle the rest of those boxes just yet.

You can turn leftover cardboard into our Easy Cat Scratching Post, made from stacked pieces of corrugated cardboard arranged into a fun twisted scratching tower.

👉 Make the Easy Cat Scratching Post

It's another simple way to transform ordinary cardboard into something designed for your cat to scratch, explore, and enjoy.

And if your cat enjoys puzzles, try another Cats Ace cardboard project:

👉 Make Our DIY Cardboard Cat Puzzle

You can turn those leftover delivery boxes into an entire afternoon of cat DIY projects. 🐾

 

Need Supplies for Your DIY Cat Tunnel?

If you're missing a few things for this project, we've put together a Cats Ace Amazon DIY Supplies List to make finding supplies easier.

You can use it to find crafting essentials for this project and other Cats Ace DIY cat ideas.

👉 [Shop the Cats Ace DIY Supplies List] 

As an Amazon Associate, Cats Ace earns from qualifying purchases.

 

DIY Cat Tunnel Safety Tips

Homemade cat projects should always be inspected regularly.

Cardboard naturally wears down with use, especially if your cat likes scratching, biting, or launching themselves onto their toys with enthusiasm.

Check your tunnel periodically for:

• Torn or collapsing cardboard
• Sharp or heavily frayed edges
• Exposed staples
• Loose tape
• Detached decorations
• Small pieces your cat could swallow
• Wet or damaged cardboard
• Paint that is peeling or being chewed

Replace the tunnel when it becomes too damaged to remain safe.

If your cat tends to eat cardboard rather than simply play with or occasionally chew it, a cardboard tunnel may not be an appropriate enrichment option for them.

Watch Our DIY Cat Tunnel Video 🎥

Want to see how we made it?

Follow Ace as he turns one ordinary cardboard box into our Cats Ace cat tunnel.

DIY Cat Tunnel — Part 1:
We build the tunnel, create the cat-shaped entrance, and add the peekaboo windows.

DIY Cat Tunnel — Part 2:
We paint, decorate, finish the project, and let a real cat give us the final verdict. 🐱

[WATCH PART 1 ON YOUTUBE ]

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Ready to Make Your Own DIY Cat Tunnel?

Sometimes the simplest projects end up being the most fun.

With one cardboard box, a pan lid, and a little creativity, you can create a DIY cat tunnel that gives your cat another place to hide, investigate, peek, and play.

And instead of immediately recycling your next delivery box, you can give it one more important assignment:

Entertain the cat. 🐱📦

If you make your own version, we'd love to see it!

 

And don't forget to follow Cats Ace for more DIY cat toys, cat enrichment ideas, cat care tips, and projects made for people who love cats. 💙🐾

Safety Disclaimer

Cats Ace is not a veterinarian or animal behavior professional. This DIY is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only. Always consider your individual cat's size, behavior, chewing habits, and health when choosing toys or enrichment activities. Supervise your cat when introducing homemade items, use pet-safe materials, and remove any project that becomes damaged or could present a choking, ingestion, entanglement, or injury risk. If you're unsure whether a particular material or activity is appropriate for your cat, consult your veterinarian.