TIP: when putting the double ended screws into the base don't secure them all the way down into the feet at first. The carpet on the platform makes it impossible to secure the legs into the middle section unless you have left the leg screws a little bit loose. This gives you the few precious centimeters you ned to catch the longer legs through the platform. As for the cat tree my cats love it, one has been permanently in the sphere since 1 day after we put it together. It looks great and has a good height on it.