Do Munchkin Cats Scratch Furniture? (Massive Analysis Now)


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All breeds of charming kitty friends are cherished for the memories and treasurable companionship that they bestow upon their humans. But this sometimes comes with unwanted damage to caregivers’ furniture and décor. So, do Munchkin cats scratch furniture?

Yes, Munchkin cats can scratch furniture. Munchkin cats may scratch furniture if they are not trained from a young age, do not have scratching posts, or are anxious. This breed is playful and energetic, and identifying the cause of scratching is vital for finding suitable solutions. 

While dealing with destruction in the home is certainly tiresome for any cat owner, it’s vital to understand that scratching is a natural and necessary part of feline well-being, as it promotes health in various ways. 

Cat Product Note:  I will talk about and recommend some cat products in this article, which will hopefully provide your cat with a more enriching life.  These are Amazon affiliate links, so I receive a commission from Amazon, with no added cost to you.  These are my honest recommendations, so if you are interested in checking them out, please click below!

  • This cat stroller on Amazon I recommend for Munchkin Cats since it can go pretty much anywhere you need it to while being versatile (Affiliate Link):  Click Here.
  • This is the cat backpack on Amazon I recommend for Munchkin Cats since it has excellent airflow and will give your cat a great view (Affiliate Link):  Click Here.
  • The cat condo/cat tree on Amazon that I recommend for Munchkin Cats – I like that the platforms aren’t too high from each other should work well for Munchkin cats! (Affiliate Link):  Click Here
  • The cat bed on Amazon that I recommend for Munchkin cats – Has a place for the cat to sleep inside of it and on top of it (Affiliate Link) – Click Here.

Stick around to find out why a Munchkin cat may scratch furniture and how to go about establishing a constructive environment for you and your adorable companion.

Do Munchkin Cats Scratch Furniture? Are They Destructive?

The Munchkin is loving and sweet but is incredibly playful. While they are not destructive, their high energy levels may increase the odds of scratching. They still have the innate urge to scratch for various reasons, much like every cat breed would, and they may scratch furniture as a result.

Is This Breed of Cat Known to Scratch Furniture? 

This breed is not known to be overly destructive but may scratch furniture if they feel that the material is suitable. It’s important to be attentive to this to identify any reasons as to why they may be scratching objects and surfaces throughout the home.

Allowing your feline friend on furniture in the first place is a decision that cat owners need to make for themselves.  We talk more about this in our article:  Click Here.

How Do I Stop My Cat from Scratching the Couch?

Video: Veterinarian Discusses Preventing Scratching

It’s not recommended to physically stop the cat from scratching or conduct strict punishments. This may inhibit a healthy activity for cats and cause bitterness, fear, or anxiety towards owners.

There are passive approaches that may be constructive for discouraging your cat from scratching the couch, and the couch can be temporarily altered to make it unpleasant for scratching.

This can be done through special tape, non-toxic sprays or odor repellents, alarms, and by covering the area with unfavorable materials. Owners can also stack plastic cups or plates set to tumble over if the zone is interfered with.

To get your Munchkin cat to stop scratching the furniture, a suitable scratching post coupled with a stable routine and training must be in place in conjunction with any of these approaches.

I have a cat condo / cat tree next to my couch, and my cat scratches on the scratching posts on the cat condo all the time – which is precisely where I want her to scratch.

To make sure she realized that I wanted her focus on the scratch posts, I sprayed them generously with catnip spray.   If you do not know already, catnip spray is a great way to let a cat know that anything it is sprayed on is for her. 

We talk more about if cats will scratch faux leather furniture, particularly in our article on the subject:  Click Here.

Why Do Cats Scratch Things?

There are numerous reasons why cats scratch certain materials, and it’s a healthy part of their overall care, as scratching shortens, sharpens, and conditions the claws.

The act of scratching various objects extends the mid-section and limbs, resulting in a full-body stretch. Cats may scratch out of anxiety, boredom, mark territory, or establish dominance, which is common if there have been fluctuations in routine or the inclusion of a new pet.

Why Do Scratching Posts Work?

Scratching posts allow felines to condition their claws at will, in addition to providing freedom of scratching for situations that cause the urge. Posts also allow for full-body stretching and exertion as they are tall yet sturdy. 

Some scratching posts have rigid woven material for resilience, and some are fitted slackly with woven fabrics that enable visible gashes.

Some felines enjoy satisfying the tactile sense, while others pursue a vivid demonstration of their scratching. Posts need to be systematically positioned around the home to be most effective, and many cats favor posts that have corners for scratching multiple sides simultaneously.

Spraying pheromones (or catnip spray, which is my recommendation) on the scratching post will attract your cat to the area, which is useful during training and discouraging the scratching of other surfaces.

This is the type of scratch post I recommend. You can see how it has the sisal fibers wrapped around it. My cat loves it!
I do not recommend this type of scratch post. My cat ignores it.

Cat Condos / Cat Trees are fantastic and not just because of the scratching posts.  To learn more about if cats like cat condos:  Click Here.

Munchkin Cat Behavior Issues

The Munchkin is friendly and energetic in activity levels. They love spending time with caregivers, get along well with other pets and children, and benefit from interactive play.

Jumping on Furniture and Counters

The Munchkin cat will often dwell on the ground due to not being able to jump as high as other cats. However, Munchkin cats will jump on furniture if it is low enough for them to clear the jump.

They may still show interest in certain spots in the home due to their investigative nature and may use their intelligence to navigate their way upwards with smaller leaps.

Why Do Cats Bite Their Owners?

Cats commonly nibble gently on their owners’ fingers, hands, and other extremities during cuddling and playtime, particularly when cats are still young and discovering boundaries.

However, if your cat is biting you aggressively, this is not normal, and this may necessitate professional assistance to identify and resolve the underlying issue.

Why Do Cats Scratch You?

While cats can commonly scratch their caregivers during playtime or while kneading, it is mostly unintentional or as a result of their claws not being shortened effectively.

However, cats can scratch their owners to indicate that they are not happy with something, and this is generally limited to communicating the issue as opposed to causing harm.

If your cat scratches you and intentionally does some serious damage, it may indicate more abnormal or unhealthy circumstances.

Why Do Cats Spray in The House?

When a cat is spraying indoors, it is likely caused by either the will to mark territory in the home or stress and anxiety. When cats become stressed or feel threatened, they may adorn the area with their own scent in order to feel more secure.

This is common for young cats who still fear their surroundings or cats of all ages when there are other pets or cats present either in the home or nearby in surrounding areas.

Can Munchkin Cats Be Left Alone? 

The Munchkin generally does fine when left alone, unless there are specific causes as to why they may be nervous or fearful on their own. However, they may become bored.

This breed is quite independent but will long for the arrival of their owner. Investing in toys and activities may help keep them distracted while owners are away, and having other pets in the home for them to play with would be beneficial.

If you do adopt another cat, I recommend a Domestic Shorthair cat like my cat, Charlotte.  There are almost always plenty of Domestic Shorthair cats ready for adoption, and they make fantastic pets.

We discuss what happens when you leave cats alone and miss their owners in our article:  Click Here.

How to Make a Munchkin Cat Happy?

With dashing speed and agility, and the ability to turn corners with swift maneuverability, this breed requires plenty of entertainment and play to stay contented.  They are loving, are not overly fussy, and they get along fairly well with others.

What can we do to make this cat breed happy?

The Munchkin will benefit from plenty of play and lots of affection. Toys and activities will increase the quality of life, and such an energetic breed will demand physical activity.

Affection with Your Munchkin Cat

While the Munchkin isn’t clingy, they still enjoy stretching out next to caregivers. They appreciate affection in various forms, including playtime in addition to stroking and petting.

Places to Rest and Hide

This breed loves cozy areas, and it’s imperative to ensure that the Munchkin has a comfortable area to rest and lounge.

Cat Condos / Cat Trees: These provide ample space for cats to recline, sleep, and wander. Many cat condos or trees come with built-in scratching posts as well as dangling toys. When you are looking at a cat condo / cat tree for Munchkin cats, you are going to want to make sure the platforms on it aren’t too high from each other; that way; your Munchkin cat can jump between them.

  • The cat condo/cat tree on Amazon that I recommend for Munchkin Cats – I like that the platforms aren’t too high from each other should work well for Munchkin cats! (Affiliate Link):  Click Here

Cat Beds: Cat beds are designed to suit the numerous sprawling positions and the overall form of cats for optimal comfort. They are created with durable and more impervious fabrics to scratching, which allows cats to knead at will without harm to their beds.

  • The cat bed on Amazon that I recommend for Munchkin cats – Has a place for the cat to sleep inside of it and on top of it (Affiliate Link) – Click Here.

Taking a Munchkin Cat Outside

There are many advantages for taking this breed outside in moderation, as they will benefit from physical exercise and outdoor exposure. Also, scratching prospects can be found outside, including healthy trees and stumps, which are popular scratching options for outdoor cats.

The Munchkin loves to run fast and will benefit greatly from vast spaces to explore.

Video: Munchkin Cat Zooming Around

Cat Harness and Leashes: Cat harnesses and leashes are certainly the most beneficial in terms of permitting physical activity, quality exercise, exploration, as well as overall freedom of movement. This will allow your cat to engage with the outside world within the boundaries dictated by caregivers and ensure that your Munchkin gets the exercise it demands

We discuss the ethics and usefulness of cat harnesses and leashes in our article on the subject:  Click Here.

Cat Backpacks: Cat backpacks offer the opportunity for witnessing outdoor life without engaging in physical activity or being exposed to exterior conditions. This may be a suitable choice for introducing the idea, but the Munchkin may not appreciate being confined.

  • This is the cat backpack on Amazon I recommend for Munchkin Cats since it has excellent airflow and will give your cat a great view (Affiliate Link):  Click Here.

Cat Strollers: Cat strollers permit cats to experience the outside world without engaging in physical activity. This would reward your cat with more freedom and entertainment, as they are not entirely cooped up. The Munchkin may appreciate having some more flexibility to observe the environment due to its curious nature.

  • This cat stroller on Amazon I recommend for Munchkin Cats since it can go pretty much anywhere you need it to while being versatile (Affiliate Link):  Click Here.

Conclusion

Video: Answer questions about Munchkin Cats

The Munchkin is rather playful and energetic but is not a prolific jumper like other cats. For this breed, scratching will commonly come down to primal instinct, as well as routine claw care.

It’s crucial to ensure that your feline has appropriate amenities to scratch within boundaries, and training from a young age will be most beneficial for ensuring non-destructive behavior throughout the course of its life.

If you enjoyed this article, check out these other articles about Munchkin cats:

Christopher Carlson

I have an Domestic Shorthair Tabby named Charlotte. She is full of energy when she isn't sleeping most of the day. I share what I learn about cats on this site.

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