First job is passage. At twelve inches it is a comfortable step between other pieces on the wall, wide enough for a cat to pause, turn, and carry on. The textured fabric top gives claws something to grab, so footing stays sure even mid-stride, and some cats will use it for a quick scratch on the way past.It holds its own as a standalone perch too, and if you are building out a wall the set of three is the frugal way to do it. One stud is all it takes to mount each one securely.