4.6 from 22 verified reviews — and no, we don't round it up to 5.
Kitty Kurlz is the accordion cardboard scratcher from Marlene's Pet Shop — the one from the videos. The internet around it is noisy: knockoffs using our name on Amazon and Temu, auto-generated "scam?" videos, the works. So we built the quiet room: every review we can match to a real order, every customer photo we've been sent, and straight answers to the skeptical questions. We'd rather show you 22 reviews we can prove than thousands we can't.
Click a bar to read just those reviews. Nothing is hidden — every rating we've received is on this page.
Why only 22?
Because we only publish reviews we can match to a real order. No imports, no incentives, no cherry-picking — the average is the plain average, and 8 of these 22 gave us four stars instead of five. Their reasons are here.
I bought it for my new kitten because I’m gone at work a lot, I just moved into a new apartment when I got her so I don’t have much at all for her quite yet. It took her all day to warm up to it but now she’s going crazy! I’m just glad she’s enjoying it, I’m going to give my free one to my sister for her cats. Big thanks from me and Fruity Pebbles!
My kitten loves it! But it’s already tearing and I’ve had it for less than a month.
Reply from Marlene's Pet Shop: Fair — a determined kitten can absolutely start tearing the honeycomb inside a month. It's corrugated cardboard on purpose: it takes the beating so your furniture doesn't. If it feels like it went too fast, reach out through the store and we'll help.
What the 4-star reviews wish was better
8 of our 22 reviewers held back the fifth star. Here's why, in their words — and our straight answers.
“It's already tearing” — durability with rough scratchers
Natalie's kitten started tearing it inside a month; April's cardboard-chewing giant destroyed one in about six months (and she's replacing it).
Our answer: it's corrugated cardboard on purpose — it takes the beating so your couch doesn't. Gentle cats get many months; determined shredders get fewer. When it's destroyed, it did its job.
“Wish the magnets were stronger”
Roy's kittens play rough enough to pop the ring open and send the balls rolling.
Our answer: the magnetic closure is a real trade-off — strong enough for normal play, and openable on purpose so you can reshape it. Multi-kitten wrestling can defeat it. Placing it on carpet rather than hard floor helps it hold.
“Smaller than I thought”
Roy connected four units to get the size he expected from the videos.
Our answer: some of the footage you've seen shows more than one unit connected — that's the honest reason for the size surprise. The photo wall has plenty of shots next to average-sized cats so you can judge the scale before buying.
“My cat ignored it”
Rachel's Tango prefers a plastic bag; Victoria's cat is scared of it; Mer's plays only if she plays too.
Our answer: cats are cats — no toy has a 100% hit rate and we won't pretend this one does. A sprinkle of catnip in the track converts a lot of skeptics. If yours still shrugs, the store's 30-day guarantee exists for exactly this.
“Never received my order”
One reviewer, Candie, reports her order never arrived and she hadn't heard back.
Our answer: that's a failure, full stop — and it stays published here. If any order goes missing, contact the store through its contact page: missing orders get tracked down, reshipped, or refunded.
It’s a great product and well worth it for the money, if your cat will engage with it. Well, I don’t know what’s going on with Tango; give her an old cardboard box or even a plastic bag and she’s bouncing! I’ve bought one of these thinking she’d love it…. Nope! She’s completely ignored it. 🤣 The kids keep turning it into a doughnut, while Tango looks at me like I have 3 heads for trying to encourage her to play with it. 🤣 Oh well! It feels nice when it forms different shapes. 🤣 I don’t want to give a bad review because it’s not the product or business fault that my cat is just being defiant! 🤣🤣🥰🏴
Our 2 pack of kitty kurlz was delivered yesterday and we are very happy with our purchase! Our our kitten is about 14 weeks old and absolutely loves it!! I was a little apprehensive, ordering from a company that had come up on my Facebook page with mixed reviews but had to just share that we had the best experience. Our order was delivered within 6 days and this included weekends. We will definitely be watering again when the first two need to be replaced!
Our new kittens Love this. At 8 weeks they are completely engaged with and excited about this toy. It's the first toy they play with and they stay involved for quite a long time for such young kittens.
We are very happy with this shape shifting,ball holding toy!!!
I bought it for my new kitten because I’m gone at work a lot, I just moved into a new apartment when I got her so I don’t have much at all for her quite yet. It took her all day to warm up to it but now she’s going crazy! I’m just glad she’s enjoying it, I’m going to give my free one to my sister for her cats. Big thanks from me and Fruity Pebbles!
I was skeptical at first when I opened these up. I bought two of them. I have six cats. The biggest cat likes to chew on cardboard boxes and paper. So when I saw the material was cardboard like, I honestly didn't think it would last very long. I caught him chewing on them a few times over the last few months. Then last night I caught him ripping it apart.... Well it last longer than six mont it not a full year... All the cats do love playing with them for sure... Guess I will get a replacement later on ....
Our sweet kitty has over-enjoyed and totally destroyed her first kitty kurlz and was in desperate need of a new one! It arrived today and she is looking forward to breaking it in.
My kitten loves it! But it’s already tearing and I’ve had it for less than a month.
Reply from Marlene's Pet Shop: Fair — a determined kitten can absolutely start tearing the honeycomb inside a month. It's corrugated cardboard on purpose: it takes the beating so your furniture doesn't. If it feels like it went too fast, reach out through the store and we'll help.
Was smaller than thought. I put 4 together and is about the right size. Also wish magnets that hold it together were a little stronger. Kittens get rough with it, and it opens up losing the balls making me search for them. But, still best cat toy ever had. They absolutely love it.
Got this for my 15 week old Siberian kitten. She loves it and it definitely keeps her entertained. I bought 2 and am gifting one for a friend. Highly recommend!
She’s maybe not as enthusiastic as the cats in the ad, but my cat really enjoys playing with the balls inside her double Kitty Kurlz, and apparently it’s comfy to nap inside as well. :-)
Have never received my order and have not gotten money back or any correspondence this upsets me because I truly believed this product was a good one and ordered buy one get one free I haven't received either bad business
Reply from Marlene's Pet Shop: This should never happen, and we're sorry it did. If your order hasn't arrived, please contact the store directly through its contact page — missing orders get tracked down, reshipped, or refunded.
3 cats with very different personalities, they all really like it. Specifically, they like 2 of the kurlz stuck together into a big kurl. I’m buying a few more for the future, in units of 2.
PS Marlene sends very aggressive marking e mails
Bought this as a gimmicky toy for my boy Dracula and he is in love with it. I had to sprinkle some catnip to get him started but he hasnt left it alone since. Im not one to give 5 star reviews, but for my furry son, i will relent this one time, but only because he love it.
Nice creative, well-made toy. My cat will only play with it (slightly for 2min) if I do as well, though. Any cat-parent suggestions to get my cat more interested in it? I’ve even tried sprinkling catnip on it to entice her interest.
My cat figured this toy out immediately and she was obsessed with it.
She hasn’t been playing with it as much the last few months but she still loves it.
Great toy for the price.
It's a compact ring — and some ad footage shows more than one unit connected, which is the honest reason a few buyers expected bigger. Browse the photo wall for real-scale shots next to cats. Full answer in the FAQ.
Will my cat actually use it?
Most do — but not all, and we publish the reviews from the cats who shrugged. Catnip in the track converts many skeptics; the store's 30-day guarantee covers the rest. More →
Is the cheap Amazon/Temu “kitty kurlz” the same thing?
