DIY toy guide
Pool Noodle Tunnel Arch
A lightweight play arch bent from a foam pool noodle for a cat to duck under, ambush through and rub against
A single foam pool noodle bent into an arch and pinned to a cardboard base makes a soft, springy doorway that cats love to dart under, hide behind and swat from — instant, cheap enrichment.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Low
🧺 You will need
- One foam pool noodle
- A flat piece of sturdy cardboard for the base
- Two bamboo skewers or short wooden dowels
- A dangly feather or ribbon toy (optional)
🔧 How to make it
- Lay the cardboard base flat where you want the arch to sit.
- Push a skewer up through the cardboard and slide one end of the pool noodle onto it to anchor it.
- Bend the noodle over into a gentle arch and anchor the other end onto a second skewer pushed through the cardboard.
- Check the arch is stable and springs back gently when nudged.
- Hang a feather or ribbon from the top of the arch to turn it into an ambush-and-pounce game.
💡 Tips
- Trim the skewer points flush so no sharp ends are exposed.
- Set two arches in a row to make a longer tunnel run.
Safety: Foam can be chewed and swallowed, so use this as a supervised play toy rather than leaving it out unattended, and replace it if a cat starts biting chunks off. Keep the skewer points fully covered.
📝 Notes
Because the whole thing weighs almost nothing and springs back when bumped, it suits confident pouncers and shy cats alike, and it folds flat for storage.