The post itself is sturdy and fits our ceiling which we measured to be 232cm. My cat has been using the bottom of the post for normal scratching and with play encouragement, she scrambles to the top chasing her toy. However, the item is NOT as pictured. The platforms have to be fitted in the centre, not to one side as in the picture. This makes it physically impossible for my cat to climb over the ledge to advance higher up the pole. The good thing is you can choose where you want the components but it could have been better designed in that the fixing hole was to the side so a cat can actually climb past a platform.