I was looking for my second cat tree, the first I purchased lasted 6 years before my 15lb cat broke one of the step-ups to the mid level. So my 2nd cat tree I was looking for a more stable "jump-up" to the mid level and this particular cat tree has it. Both my cats love it! (Both are 7 yrs-old, one is 11 lbs the other is 15lbs+)