Our old Alpine Scratcher was definitely due for retirement. I purchased it around 1996. Although it was still usable, it had been "bandaged" with duct tape many times. We bought this Alpine Scratcher to replace the old one. Even though I think that over 14 years of heavy usage deserves major kudos, we were ready to get a more "attractive" scratcher. We love the brightly colored pattern, and how easy it is to put together. Since it is a wonderful deterrent to scratching furniture, we highly recommend it. Our two kitties suggest that all kitty guardians should gift this scratcher to their beloved cats.