I normally would balk at paying $50 for a cat scratcher, but after seeing the NYT pick this as their favorite, I decided to do it. I’m glad I did. It’s sturdy, tall enough for the average cat to stretch all the way out, and it holds up well. It’s constructed in such a way that you can flip it over once the top gets all scratched up, which is also a bargain. But we’ve had this for about 6 months and it shows no real signs of wear– and our cat actually likes it. The color and style work with most neutral/ minimalist/ Nordic decor styles, which is also a major plus. I highly recommend this product.