The cat tree was easy to assemble and my three cats are having a wonderful time hoping from place to place, snoozing on the various shelves and playing hid and seek in and out of the openings in the base. The tree is sturdy with the larger base and remains stable even when my largest cat springs from the top shelf. Unlike others, I have had no difficulties with the hanging toy. The cats bat at it and pull it up onto the shelf from which it hangs; they haven't yet pulled it off.