I bought this so my cat could sit on it when I am carving meats in the kitchen.  He loves it!  It gives him enough height that he feels higher than my other cat, and a few treats and positive reinforcement and he now stays off the counters when I am working.  It's very sturdy, and the lid lifts up to a small compartment, where I hide the cat nip.  It did come with a tapestry top, instead of a white top, but it was very nicely made, and looked good.