It's been quite a while since we bought this so I forget whether we had to assemble it or not. It did come slightly earlier than expected so if timing is crucial, perhaps keep an eye on that. 

It's really a fantastic little cat perch, very sturdy, well-covered with somewhat shaggy carpet, and is roomy enough for our overweight #15 lb rescue cat. 

This perch is miles above anything we saw in the local shops and I'm very pleased with the quality and my decision to buy it. It's worth every penny and I expect we'll have it for years to come.