Well this looked like a really cute design, very different from the average cat tree (and I have 7 of them in my home for 5 cats!). But really it's not the most functional for the cats. First, the 71 inch height is to the top of the tunnel perched on top of the arch structure. The highest flat platforms that the cat can actually lie on (on either side of the arch) are only 46" off the floor, and they are only 11" wide so not that comfortable for big cats like mine. None of my cats have gotten into the tunnel yet; I think it's very difficult for them because the only entry to the tunnel is from the TOP, so a cat would have to climb precariously on the sisal covered pieces in the arch and then jump into the tunnel top. Maybe this would be an easy feat for a kitten, but not for big cats like mine. (As many reviews I've seen have questioned, why do cat tree manufacturers seem to design them primarily for kittens only?) It's not a total waste though, overall the structure is sturdy and I have seen my cats sitting in or on top of the little "house" structure in the middle. Guess I should have spent more time really examining the design, but I wouldn't buy this one if I had it to do over again.