This item looks great, just like the photo. I have really active cats, so I love the steady base that keeps it from falling over. That said, I found it impossible to screw in the middle poles at both the top and the bottom at once. When I tightened one set, the others were loose. However, because it's so sturdy, I just tightened the bottom and let the weight of the top keep it in place. So far so good!