When our cat tree arrived I groaned  a little at the prospect of getting it all together, however, it went together pretty smoothly and my husband only had to help at the end with the challenge of screwing a lower post into one of the upper pads.  It was over my head!  Once together it is very sturdy and appealing.  Our older cat wandered by it disinterestedly for several days before suddenly claiming the second shelf for herself.  No one goes in the cave yet but cooler weather may change that.  The post "lives" out on the screened porch where it serves nicely as the sentinel site for the backyard.  Good product. Nice materials. Happy pets.