This was an amazing find.  I was a bit worried as my cats had never taken to a cat tree before but this one has provided them (and me) hours of entertainment.  The item was easy to assemble and is true to the 55" height listed.  The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is that after about an hour my cats had removed the ball from both the box in the bottom and the string on the top pedestal.  Obviously I have destructive cats.