ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,239,097, issued on March 4.

"Cat tower assembly" was invented by Sean S. Farley (Camarillo, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A self-supporting structure for the play and relaxation of cats is disclosed. A first, second and third cylindrical tower define respectively a first, second and third length from a first, second and third bottom end opposite a first, second and third top end. A flat triangular base defines a bottom side opposite a top side. The flat triangular base is configured to be attachable at each of its triangular ends respectively to the first bottom end, the second bottom end and the third bottom end of the cylindric...