The set-up was very simple. I still had to place my cat and then "tuck" in his head and tail. He is a fighter when using a regular cat carrier and it is difficult to maneuver his legs and such without getting scratched. I want this to be a better solution. My cat is 10 pounds with long hair. Standing (the cat), I needed to push in his tail and hair before closing. He may fight in the future when he realizes what it means to get into it, but it seems to be okay for now. The break-down is a compact solution and the cushion is nice (not sure how it will fair when washed). I am 5'5 and weak in the arms and back. The design, so far rests against my hip and upper thighs better than the old type of carrier. My cat does not have a lot of room to maneuver, but that is best because he thrashes and I loose balance.