Well, mine WAS covered in a garbage bag in the corner until my stinker kittens discovered it. Now they have been using it as a cat tower (they have a very nice one we made) and have chewed the bag, gotten hair all over the top of the batting and tuffted it all over from the climbing. Uuuuurrrrgggggg. I am still trying to think of a good way to protect it. There isn't a place to hang it until the oldest kids move out (in 4 years!).