I have a Bengal cat and he leaps on this/puts it through the ringer and it's super sturdy and holds up well. He's a big cat and fits well in the round bed...it's his favorite place! My smaller American Shorthair cat loves the bottom bed and hangs out in the space behind the beds on the bottom. No shedding and the chemical carpet smell did go away after a few weeks. I have bad asthma and I can handle this tree's fumes. GREAT purchase that I believe will last years despite my Bengal beating it up. ;-)