Last updated Mar 7, 2023
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
A good cat wheel can be a smart investment for high-energy cats who don’t have a lot of space to run and play. If your cat is prone to midnight zoomies and spends a lot of their days running, jumping, and zipping up and down furniture, they might like to take one of these wheels for a spin.
But not all cat wheels are a good choice.
After hours of research and trying three cat wheels with my two cats, I’ve learned that many cat wheels are poorly-designed and, most likely, unsafe for cats.
That’s why I’ve chosen the Ferris Cat Wheel as the best cat exercise wheel you can buy. This wheel is well-built, spins smoothly, and gives your cat plenty of room to stretch out. It’s a strong choice for energetic cats who need a place to run.
Keep reading to learn more about the Ferris Cat Wheel and my other top five recommendations.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Cat Exercise Wheels
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
G5 Ferris Cat Wheel
- Well-built from seemingly high-quality materials
- Spins smoothly and quietly
- Soft, comfortable EVA foam track
One Fast Cat Wheel
- Large enough to feel comfortable for most cats
- Receives mostly positive customer reviews
- Comfortable, soft EVA foam resists claw-snags
GoPet Cat Treadwheel
- A good option for cats who like a free spinning wheel
- Easy to maintain with a rubber track liner
- Snag-free rubber lining
Cody’s Catswheel
- Runs on a center shaft, making it silent and ultra-smooth
- Buying a custom-built wheel means that you can get exactly the features and style you want
- Sturdily and thoughtfully constructed
The Maclaw Wheel
- Large size gives your cat ample running space
- Runs smoothly and quietly
- Made to order by a small UK-based business
Top Pick Explained
Why Should You Trust Us?
To find the best cat wheels on the market, I spent hours researching the world of cat wheels, learning about the qualities of a good wheel, the different products available, and what regular users did and didn’t like. After learning about the options available, I ordered three cat wheels—each representing a different price tier—and tried them out with my cats.
I selected three popular wheels from different parts of the marketplace. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Before we review our top recommendations, let’s talk about what to look for in a cat wheel.
It’s large enough for your cat to use comfortably.
I found that the best cat wheels measured at least 40” across on the inside, allowing the cat to comfortably reach and run. Small wheels take up less space in the home, but they can feel awkward for adult cats.
The track is lined with a non-snagging material.
Some cat wheels are lined with carpet, which your cat’s claws can catch and snag. Ideally, the running surface should be smooth, so that your cat’s claws can’t catch on it.
It’s thoughtfully built from high-quality materials.
A great cat wheel should last for your cat’s lifetime. It should be made from rugged, long-lasting materials and sturdily-constructed. Whether it comes pre-assembled or in pieces you need to put together, all of the parts should come together securely, without gaps or weak spots. And if you’re the one assembling the wheel, it should come with detailed instructions and all the parts you need.
It spins smoothly and quietly.
When your cat is running on the wheel, it shouldn’t make a lot of noise. The best cat wheels make a quiet whirring noise without a lot of clunks and creaks. Additionally, the wheel should spin smoothly, with just the right amount of resistance to make your cat comfortable.
After researching cat wheels and reading customer reviews, I chose the following three for paws-on testing.
Wessie helped me to test and evaluate all three of the wheels in-home, and we established several criteria for a good cat wheel. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
To get a sense for the performance of cat wheels from every corner of the market, I tried three cat wheels in my own home.
One was a very pricey enthusiast-recommended cat wheel, the second was an ultra-popular wheel at a moderate price, and the third was Amazon’s top wheel recommendation, a smaller exercise wheel with a lot of scary negative reviews.
Those three products were:
I was only able to test three wheels for this review, but I used my experience with these products to select an additional three to recommend. While the Ferris Cat Wheel and One Fast Cat Wheel made it into my final roundup, the Penn-Plax wheel was eliminated for its small size and uncontrolled movement.
After Receiving the Cat Wheels, I Subjected Them to a Series of Tests.
Ease of Assembly
I also evaluated the wheels’ build quality during this phase, evaluating the strength of the materials and how well all of the parts came together. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
I put together all of the cat wheels and took notes on how long it took me to assemble them, how clear the instructions were, and how many assembly supplies were included in the package. I also evaluated the wheels’ build quality during this phase, evaluating the strength of the materials and how well all of the parts came together.
Cat-Appropriateness
I took note of how comfortable my cats seemed to fill on and in each wheel, whether or not their claws snagged, and if they seemed afraid of the wheels. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Enlisting the help of my two cats, Wessie and Forest, I tried out each of the cat wheels, inviting my cats to sit, walk, and—unsuccessfully—run on them. I took note of how comfortable my cats seemed to fill on and in each wheel, whether or not their claws snagged, and if they seemed afraid of the wheels.
Smoothness & Spin
Better wheels span smoothly with just enough momentum to move with your cat, never spinning too slowly or too quickly for the feline user. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Better wheels span smoothly with just enough momentum to move with your cat, never spinning too slowly or too quickly for the feline user. This made them more comfortable and fun for the cat using the wheel and also reduced the amount of noise they produced.
Best Cat Exercise Wheels: Our Top 5 Picks Reviewed
#1 Overall Best: G5 Ferris Cat Wheel
- Wheel Diameter: 48 inches
- Track Width: 12.5 inches
- Track Material: EVA foam
- Colors Available: Black, Blue, Green, Pink
- Weight Limit: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 1-Year Warranty
- Price: $599 CAD (about $440 USD)
As I began digging into the best cat wheels on the market, the Ferris Cat Wheel was repeatedly recommended by seasoned cat wheel users. Happy customers described it as quieter, sturdier, and more expensive than the better-known One Fast Cat Wheel.
Often mistakenly referred to as “the ZiggyDoo” after the product’s North American distributor, the Ferris Cat Wheel is designed and manufactured by Ferris Cat Wheel Malaysia and sold through several distributors around the world. Fulfillment and shipping to the United States took over a month.
And once I started unboxing and assembling the wheel, I understood why this product has become such a cult classic in the cat community. Though time-consuming, assembly was easy and straightforward, and I appreciated that the company included all the supplies I needed, including a mallet and combination wrench with a ratchet.
Once assembled, this massive cat wheel stands 56 inches high and has an inner diameter of 48 inches. The running track is over a foot wide and covered in soft EVA foam tiles. The whole body of the wheel feels robust and well-constructed, and my cat, Wessie, seemed to feel comfortable standing on it, even if he wasn’t ready to run immediately.
With six skate wheels on the base and a smooth, deeply-grooved track, the Ferris Cat Wheel is able to turn smoothly and quickly with a soft whirring sound.
Overall, it’s a well-designed, well-constructed cat wheel with all the qualities we’re looking for. It’s expensive, though, and large, so if you’re not ready for a major dent in both your wallet and square footage, you may want to explore other options.
What We Liked:
- Well-built from seemingly high-quality materials
- Spins smoothly and quietly
- Soft, comfortable EVA foam track
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Fulfillment and delivery can take a long time
#2 Runner Up: One Fast Cat Wheel
- Wheel Diameter: 43 inches
- Track Width: 10.75 inches
- Track Material: EVA foam
- Colors Available: Black, White, Cheetah, Snow Leopard
- Weight Limit: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 30-Day Warranty
- Price: $224
Perhaps the most popular cat wheel on the market, the One Fast Cat Wheel is somewhat more attainably-priced than our first recommendation.
Assembly is tricky—the user has to slip in fragile plastic clips that tend to snap and hurt the fingers. Putting together the base takes a lot of muscle, and no mallet is included in the box.
Once assembled, the wheel measures 48″ H x 47″ W. The running track measures just under 11 inches wide and sits on four skate wheels. These wheels are on the slower side, so the wheel’s movement is slightly restrained, though smooth enough to be fun for cats.
While many other cats love the One Fast Cat Wheel, I felt that my cats seemed slightly less comfortable standing on it. Though they loved the combination wand toy that came with the wheel, they wouldn’t stand on it for long or walk in it, and it made a lot of scraping, thudding noises while running.
Overall, the One Fast Cat Wheel is a crowdpleasing choice that’s won over thousands of cat owners. Customer support seems to be outstanding, and it’s a convenient and readily-available option for customers in the United States.
What We Liked:
- Large enough to feel comfortable for most cats
- Receives mostly positive customer reviews
- Comfortable, soft EVA foam resists claw-snags
- Available in a variety of fun patterns
- LED roller wheels are available
- Seems to offer great customer service
- The most affordably-priced wheel on this list
What We Didn’t Like:
- Finicky assembly process
- Seems to be noisier than some other cat wheels
#3 Premium Pick: GoPet Cat Treadwheel
- Wheel Diameter: 40 inches
- Track Width: 12 inches
- Track Material: Rubber
- Colors Available: Black
- Weight Limit: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 1-Year Warranty
- Price: $775
The price of this wheel is staggering—nearly $800 is a price few will be willing to pay for a cat exercise wheel.
However, it has some qualities that set it apart from the rest. For one, it comes fully-assembled, so you don’t have to spend hours putting the wheel together. You might also appreciate the sturdy construction, US manufacturing, and ultra-smooth, almost silent operation of this wheel.
Unlike other cat wheels that turn on a skate wheel base, this wheel uses a center shaft with very little friction, allowing the wheel to freely spin.
Thanks to a built-in rubber running track, the GoPet wheel doesn’t require replacement track liners and is very easy to clean.
What We Liked:
- A good option for cats who like a free spinning wheel
- Easy to maintain with a rubber track liner
- Snag-free rubber lining
- Incredibly quiet operation
- Comes fully assembled
What We Didn’t Like:
- Wheels with a center shaft tend to rock and may feel less stable
- Extremely expensive
- Small compared to our top-recommended wheels
#4 Best Custom-Made: Cody’s Catswheel
- Wheel Diameter: 49 inches
- Track Width: 11.25 inches
- Track Material: Carpet
- Colors Available: Custom; black is standard, but any RAL color is available
- Weight Limit: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 5-Year Warranty
- Price: Starts at €1499 ($1,599 USD)
Made to order in the Netherlands, the Cody’s Catswheel has established a following among cat wheel enthusiasts. You’re able to customize the wheel to suit your and your cat’s needs, selecting the size, back wall style, accessories, color (see RAL color options) and finish type, and more.
The wheel is constructed from aluminum with a steel base for stability and longevity, and it is delivered completely assembled. Reviewers agree that it runs smoothly and silently, with one user saying that “all you can hear are the paws on the carpet”. You can see and hear the wheel in motion here.
The Cody’s Catswheel comes standard with a carpeted track lining. While I wasn’t able to try this wheel out for myself, my research on other wheels suggests that this type of carpeted lining may lead to claw snags and tugs. You can reduce the likelihood of snagging by keeping your cat’s claws trimmed.
As you’d expect for a custom made-to-order cat wheel, the Cody’s Catswheel is not cheap. Wheels start at €1499, which is over $1,500 USD. Accessories and other modifications will add more to your expense, and shipping costs will send it higher. The company requires you to pay an additional €250 for a wooden box, then arrange to have a transporter pick up the wheel and bring it to your location.
If you’re living in the United States, expect to spend $2,000 or more.
What We Liked:
- Runs on a center shaft, making it silent and ultra-smooth
- Buying a custom-built wheel means that you can get exactly the features and style you want
- Sturdily and thoughtfully constructed
- Large size makes it comfortable for cats of all sizes
What We Didn’t Like:
- Has a carpeted lining, which may cause cats’ claws to snag
#5 Best In The UK: The Maclaw Wheel
- Wheel Diameter: 48 inches/122 centimeters
- Track Width: 12 inches/30 centimeters
- Track Material: Rubber
- Colors Available: Black, Blue, Green, Pink
- Weight Limit: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 1-Year Limited Warranty
- Price: Starts at £750
If you live in the United Kingdom and want a custom cat wheel, The Maclaw Wheel may be a good option. It’s similar in design and concept to the Cody’s Catswheel, but it’s designed and built in the United Kingdom.
The Maclaw wheel was designed by company owner Allan Hodgson, who still hand-builds each wheel to order. After they’re built, the wheels are hand-decorated, then handed over to the owners’ Bengal cats, who complete paws-on testing to ensure that each wheel is ready to leave the workshop.
Like some of the other ultra-premium wheels on this list, the Maclaw Wheel runs on a single center shaft, giving it smooth, soundless movement. The wheel measures 48” or 122cm in diameter, and the wide running track is covered in a rubber material. The wheel body is constructed from furniture-grade plywood, fiberboard, and white spruce. It’s available with a stand or as a wall-mounted wheel.
Wheels start at £750, with extra charges for decorative vinyl prints or custom printing. The company offers both outdoor and indoor versions of the wheel, offering extra protection for those who want to use their wheel in a catio. You’ll also have to pay for shipping. The company currently only ships to customers living within the United Kingdom.
What We Liked:
- Large size gives your cat ample running space
- Runs smoothly and quietly
- Made to order by a small UK-based business
- Custom designs available
- Rubber track liner resists snagging
What We Didn’t Like:
- Very expensive
- International shipping is not an option
You’re the best! I love watching you and your cats! They are so sweet ! Funny when you’re demonstrating an item and one of your cats says naw. So cute! Thank you very much for what you do and may the Lord bless you!
Aww, thank you for the kind words! Hope you have a great rest of your night/day.