Sometimes it’s difficult to make sure your indoor cat is getting enough exercise. We all know that it’s safest to keep our cats inside, but we also want to keep them healthy and prevent excess weight gain. Cat exercise wheels provide an easy option to exercise indoor cats in the safety of the home. If you’re new to the world of cat exercise wheels, these reviews will help you find the best one to buy in Canada.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favourites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Balemaue Cat Running Wheel |
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Best Value
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Large Cat Turntable Wheel |
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Premium Choice
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C’estbon Anti-Pinch Cat Exercise Wheel |
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Pokhdye Cat Wheel Exerciser |
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C’estbon Cat Treadmill |
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The 10 Best Cat Exercise Wheels in Canada
1. Balemaue Cat Running Wheel — Best Overall
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | Brown |
The Balemaue Cat Running Wheel is our recommendation for the best overall cat exercise wheel in Canada. This wheel is strong, sturdy, and extra wide to provide a safe space for all sizes of cats. The pulleys on the wheel are silent, so your cat can run at any time of day without disturbing you. It’s easy to put together and is carpet lined to protect your cat’s paws.
The only concern with this wheel is the gap between the base and the treadmill. It is wide enough for a paw to get stuck in if the base isn’t covered with something.
2. Large Cat Turntable Wheel — Best Value
| Material: | Corrugated cardboard |
| Colour: | Brown |
This large cat turntable wheel is the best exercise wheel in Canada for the money. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and inexpensive. It’s not just an exercise wheel either. It includes a scratcher and cat lounging area. The wheel can also double as a climbing tree when your cat isn’t running on it, or your cat can spin it from the outside.
The biggest downside to this wheel is its possible lack of durability. The fact that it’s made from cardboard means that some cats will shred it to pieces.
3. C’estbon Anti-Pinch Cat Exercise Wheel — Premium Choice
| Material: | Polypropylene |
| Colour: | White |
This large exercise wheel from C’estbon is stable enough for large cats. It has no gaps between the base and the wheel, and the pulleys are silent so your cat can run at any time of day or night. There is a locking device for safety, so the wheel can double as a relaxation spot or a scratching post. For easy cleaning, the carpet can be removed and washed.
The specs on this exercise wheel state that it’s only rated for cats under 15 pounds. There is also some question as to the material that it is constructed out of. The wheel is supposed to be made from polypropylene, but the box states that it is made out of wood. While there may be a slight misrepresentation or an error in advertising for this wheel, it is still a solid, stable option for exercising your cat.
4. Pokhdye Cat Wheel Exerciser
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | White |
The Pokhdye Cat Wheel Exerciser comes in three different sizes, so you can choose which one is most appropriate for your space and the size of your cat. It has pre-drilled holes, so it’s easy to assemble and disassemble if you wish to move it to a different room. It is carpet lined to protect your cat’s paws and avoid them scratching up the wheel.
Unfortunately, this wheel doesn’t have a silent pulley system, so you may find it a bit disruptive while it’s in use. However, this may be a minor inconvenience, as this wheel is a more economical option than many other brands.
5. C’estbon Cat Treadmill
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | Brown |
The C’estbon cat treadmill has silent pulleys and a locking device to turn off the wheel. It is relatively small compared to other cat wheels, which could be good or bad, depending on your needs. This wheel is perfect for small apartments or tiny living spaces, as you don’t need much space for it to work. However, if you have a large cat, they may not have enough room to run on the wheel.
6. C’estbon No Gap Exercise Wheel
| Material: | Polypropylene |
| Colour: | White |
The C’estbon No Gap Exercise Wheel is made from non-toxic polypropylene. It has a wide base for extra stability and a gap-free design so small paws can’t get caught up in the treadmill mechanism. The pulleys are also silent, so you won’t have to worry about your cat keeping you up at night. A locking device on the bottom gives you the option to stop the wheel from turning if you wish.
This treadmill is small and only made for cats under 15 pounds. It’s a great option if you have a small cat and a small place in your home for the treadmill, but it’s not ideal for large cats.
7. QNMM Cat Exercise Wheel
| Material: | Foam, ethylene vinyl, acetate |
| Colour: | Black |
The QNMM Cat Exercise Wheel is unique in the fact that it can support cats up to 25 pounds. It’s the perfect option for large cats. This wheel has EVA foam instead of carpet on the running surface. It’s still soft on a cat’s feet, but their claws won’t catch while using the wheel. The entire wheel can be wiped down for easy cleaning.
The only downside to this exercise wheel is the amount of space that it takes up. Since it is a large wheel, you’ll need a large space to put it in. It’s also quite heavy, so you likely won’t want to move it from room to room.
8. Kunovo Cat Exercise Wheel
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | Brown |
The Kunovo wheel is available in four different sizes to suit your needs. It has small gaps to avoid paw pinching and a locking mechanism on the bottom. This wheel is fairly simple in its construction — it’s just a basic wheel.
It’s lined with a style of carpet that claws can easily snag on. If your cat doesn’t get their claws stuck, it is likely that the carpet will shred with frequent use. Plan on having to replace the carpet liner at some point.
9. Zimgod Green Cat Treadmill
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | Green |
This wheel comes in three different sizes and a unique colour. It’s wood that’s painted green. You can also get it in pink. The Zimgod Treadmill has a locking mechanism and silent pulleys. It’s sturdy and stable.
The Zimgod wheel is harder to put together than many other options. There is also concern that the paint may chip off the outside over time.
10. Heavy-Duty Cat Treadmill
| Material: | Wood |
| Colour: | Brown |
The Heavy-Duty cat treadmill has a wide and stable base to stand up to excessive use and large cats. This is a great option for multi-cat households that need a treadmill that their cats can’t topple. If you have a large-breed cat, this is a good choice for them too.
The downside of this treadmill is that it does not have a locking mechanism, nor does it have a silent pulley system. Not only can it be noisy and disruptive, but there’s also no way to shut it off when you don’t want to be bothered.
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Cat Exercise Wheels in Canada
If you’ve never purchased a cat exercise wheel before, it’s tough to know what to look for. We’re here to help! Here are a few things that you want to consider before deciding on a cat wheel.
Size
The size of the wheel that you choose is important. It’s going to take up space in your home, and if you live in a small space, you don’t want a wheel so big that your couch no longer fits. But it also needs to be big enough for your cat. If you have a cat that weighs over 15 pounds, your selection is more limited. It’s important to have a wheel that’s sturdy enough to support your cat’s weight without risking injury from toppling over.
Stability
A solid base is important. Otherwise, the wheel will wobble or tip when the treadmill is in use.
Ease of Assembly and Disassembly
If you need to move your wheel around, make sure it’s easy to put together and take apart. Some exercise wheels come with pre-drilled holes and all the hardware that you need to put them together, but others don’t. Take your handyperson skills into consideration, and make sure you’re up for the task.
How Cats Can Benefit From Exercise Wheels
There are several reasons that an exercise wheel can be beneficial for your cat. Indoor cats often have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough mental stimulation. An exercise wheel provides an opportunity to get much-needed daily exercise. Not only can they run or walk on the treadmill part, but they can also jump, pounce, and scratch. This provides an opportunity to act on their natural hunting instincts.
Exercise isn’t just important for weight control. It also gives your cat something to do, both physically and mentally. Bored and restless animals can exhibit unwanted or destructive behaviors. The exercise wheel engages their brain because they have to plan out their movements as the wheel spins. This improves balance and coordination and keeps their mind sharp and alert.
Conclusion
Not all exercise wheels are created equal, which is why we created this list of reviews to help you find the best one. To recap, the best overall cat exercise wheel in Canada is the Balemaue Cat Running Wheel. It provides the perfect combination of sturdiness and silent operation to keep your cat moving without being bothersome. The best cat exercise wheel in Canada for the money is the Large Cat Turntable Wheel. It’s big enough for large cats and serves a dual purpose as a toy and scratching post. Our premium choice is the C’estbon Anti-Pinch Cat Exercise Wheel. It’s specifically created without any gaps in construction, so you can feel confident that your cat won’t get pinched while getting on and off the wheel.
Featured Image Credit: Dmitri Ma, Shutterstock
