Do Persian Cats Scratch Furniture? (The Truth About Why)


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All breeds of charismatic cats are cherished for the precious memories and companionship that they gift their humans. But this commonly comes with unwanted damage to caregivers’ upholstery and décor.

People who own or are considering Persian cats know that they are lap cats, which means they probably spend a lot of time sitting on your lap on top of furniture.  So, do Persian cats scratch furniture?

Yes, Persian cats can scratch furniture.  Persian cats may scratch furniture if they are not trained from a young age, do not have scratching posts nearby, or are bored or anxious. This breed is timid with spurts of energy and identifying the cause of scratching is vital for finding a solution. 

While dealing with destruction in the home is undoubtedly 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 Persian 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 Persian 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 Persian Cats – I own this for my cat, and she loves it! (Affiliate Link):  Click Here
  • The cat bed on Amazon that I recommend for Persian cats – It 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 Persian cat may scratch furniture, and how to go about establishing a constructive environment for you and your adorable companion.

Do Persian Cats Scratch Furniture? Are They Destructive?

The Persian cat is quite docile and mellow in the way they behave, as they are gentle and calm with sudden outbursts of energy or activity instead of being destructive. However, they do have the innate urge to scratch for various reasons, and they may scratch furniture as a result.

Persian cats are polite in the way they seek attention from caregivers and will approach loved ones instead of causing chaos for attention. 

Is This Breed of Cat Known to Scratch Furniture? 

Persian cats are not known to be destructive but may scratch furniture if they feel that the material is suitable. It is essential to be attentive to identify any reasons why they may be scratching particular objects and surfaces throughout the home.

Allowing your cat on furniture in the first place is a decision 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 Talks About Cat Scratching

It’s not recommended to physically stop the cat from scratching or to conduct strict punishments, as this may inhibit a natural activity that is healthy for cats and cause anxiety. Passive approaches may be constructive for discouraging your cat to scratch the couch, and the couch can be temporarily altered to make it unpleasant for scratching.  

This can be done through the special tape, non-toxic sprays or odor repellents, alarms, and by covering the area with unfavorable materials. To get your Persian cat to stop scratching the furniture, you will also want to place scratching posts nearby. 

I have a cat condo / cat tree next to my sofa, and my cat scratches on the scratch posts on the cat condo all the time – which is exactly where I want her to scratch. To make sure she understood that I wanted her attention on the scratch posts, I sprayed them pretty well with catnip spray.   If you aren’t aware, catnip spray is a great way to let a cat know that whatever it is sprayed on is for her.

Why Do Cats Scratch Things?

There are several reasons why cats scratch certain materials, and it’s a healthy aspect of care, as scratching shortens, sharpens, and conditions the claws. The act of scratching extends the mid-section and limbs, resulting in a full-body stretch. Cats may scratch out of anxiety, boredom, to mark territory, or to establish dominance.

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

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 visual representation of their scratching. Posts should be methodically positioned to be most effective, and many cats favor posts that have corners for scratching multiple sides simultaneously. Spraying pheromones or catnip spray (which is what I recommend) on the scratching post will attract your cat to the area.

My opinion is that scratching posts are fantastic.  I have found that my cat uses scratching posts with sisal fiber (which are also conveniently the type found on most cat condos / cat trees) and that she doesn’t really care for scratching posts made out of other materials.  I’ll include some photos to show you what I am talking about.

Scratch post made with Sisal Fiber – found on most cat condos / cat trees. I recommend this type.
My cat just has not been interested in other types of scratch posts, like this kind. I do not recommend.

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.

Persian Cat Behavior Issues

The Persian cat is sociable and passive, with a reasonably timid activity level and sporadic outbursts of kitten-like energy. They are calm, devoted, and observant of their loved ones.

Jumping on Furniture

Persian cats are generally considered to be lazy, but all cats will jump on things if they desire being on top of it – this includes furniture. They may jump onto furniture to curl up next to caregivers, as they enjoy draping themselves over armchairs to recline. 

Jumping on Counters

The Persian cat prefers to dwell on the floor but may jump on counters to observe on-goings within the home, or to peer out through windows. They are not keen on climbing to high points within the home, such as bookcases or cabinets.

Scratching

The Persian cat is not territorial and does well with changes in routine, thus they are less likely to scratch out of anxiety or dominance. The common cause is basic claw care and natural urges, and training from a young age is beneficial.

Do Persian Cats Attack?

This breed is not aggressive and gets along well with people, children, and other pets. Cats commonly nibble gently on owners’ extremities during cuddling and playtime, mainly when cats are still young and discovering boundaries.

While cats can scratch caregivers during playtime or while kneading, it is mostly unintentional, or due to their claws not being conditioned. However, cats can scratch their owners to indicate a dispute, but this is generally limited to communicating the issue instead of causing harm.

The Persian cat is quite timid but may attack other animals or humans if they feel threatened or are provoked. They are also selective with whom they show affection and forcing affection may aggravate them.

However, suppose your cat is biting or scratching you or others within the home aggressively without an apparent cause. In that case, this is not considered normal and may necessitate professional assistance to identify and resolve the underlying issue.

Why Do Persian Cats Cry?

Persian cats may cry to exhibit their emotions or to communicate that they want something. They emit sweet chirps as opposed to meows, which may resemble the sound of a cry.

Can Persian Cats Be Left Alone? 

The Persian cat generally does fine when left alone, however, they love company and could develop separation anxiety. This breed is quite independent but will long for the arrival of their owner. If you think your cat has separation anxiety, you should have a conversation about it with your veterinarian.

Investing in toys or another feline friend may assist in keeping them distracted while owners are away. If you do adopt another cat, I recommend a Domestic Shorthair cat like my cat, Charlotte.  There are usually plenty of Domestic Shorthair cats ready for adoption and they make sweet pets.

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

How to Make a Persian Cat Happy

This breed appreciates tranquil and quiescent areas and dislikes rowdy guests or unruly children. They are loving, loyal, and get along reasonably well with others.

What Can We Do to Make This Cat Breed Happy?

The Persian cat will benefit from interactive play, affection, and relaxation. Toys and activities will increase the quality of life, and caregivers should stimulate exercise since this breed displays a low physical activity level.

Affection with Your Persian Cat

While the Persian cat isn’t clingy, they are lap cats and enjoy stretching out next to caregivers. They are also fun-loving and thrive off of the interactive play.

Places to Rest and Hide

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

Video: Persian Kittens on Massive Cat Tree!

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 and dangling toys like knotted ropes for complementary entertainment.

  • The cat condo/cat tree on Amazon that I recommend for Persian Cats – I own this for my cat, and she loves it! (Affiliate Link):  Click Here

Cat Beds: Cat beds provide cats with their special plush place to sleep in. They are designed to suit the numerous sprawling positions and unique physique of cats for optimal comfort and are created with more impervious fabrics to scratching, which allows them to knead at will without harm to their beds.

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

Taking a Cat Out for a Walk

There are a plethora of advantages for taking this breed outside, 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 Persian cat is quite mellow with a low level of physical activity and will need encouragement for exercise.

Taking them outside acts as entertainment for your feline friend, and they will appreciate spending time with their loved ones. This also contributes to resolving excessive scratching causes, such as the supposed lack of attention from caregivers or boredom.

Cat Harness and Leashes: Cat harnesses and leashes are undoubtedly 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 Persian gets the amount of exercise necessary for staying in good shape.

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 this calm and bashful breed, as they may appreciate simply being a part of their human’s daily adventures and enjoy the ability to lounge while outdoors.

  • This is the cat backpack on Amazon I recommend for Persian 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 Persian may appreciate having some more flexibility to observe the environment with the space to lounge throughout.

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

Conclusion

The Persian cat is tame and gentle and is not prone to jumping or climbing. 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 at within its boundaries. Training from a young age will be most beneficial for ensuring non-destructive behavior throughout its life.

If you enjoyed this article, check out a couple of other interesting articles, such as:

  • Do Exotic Shorthair Cats Shed? (Good Quick Answers): Click Here.
  • Can Abyssinian Cats Go Outside? (Useful Truth Found Here): Click Here.

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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