The cat food industry likes to emphasize the fact that cats are carnivores. But many people forget that cats are also prey. In fact, cats can be prey for many other animals. So cats naturally don’t like sneaky things. This is why cats have sensitive hearing, smell and vision. In fact, cats have a much more sensitive sense of smell and hearing than dogs. If your cat turns around and sees something behind them that wasn’t there before, they will initially be startled. This reaction may be exacerbated if cucumbers are placed while the cat is eating, drinking or using the litter box. Both of these activities can leave your cat vulnerable. This is because a cat that is eating, drinking or even using the litter box is not paying as much attention to its surroundings as usual. Cats using the litter box also cannot escape quickly or easily. Being frightened by a potential predator during any of these activities can be especially stressful for your cat.
Are cats afraid of cucumbers because they look like snakes? A common belief is that cats are intimidated by cucumbers because they look like snakes. At first glance, it makes sense: cucumbers are long and narrow, even a little curvier like a snake. Some people like to think that these features make the cucumber snakelike. So when your cat turns around and sees something that not only appears to appear out of nowhere, but something that looks very much like a snake, and jumps in fright, these people argue that it’s because your cat thinks it is a snake. Of course, after the initial jumping fear, most cats will realize that the invading predator is actually just producing. In fact, if you put the cucumber in front of the cat, not the back, they won’t jump back in fear because they’ll know it’s not a predator at all. Another problem with the snake hypothesis is that most cats are actually curious about snakes. If they find one in the garden (or at your house), they’ll probably grab them and think they’re not too different from their favorite rope toy. Unless they’ve actually been bitten by a snake, your cat probably won’t realize that snakes are hurting them. So while cucumbers that look like snakes are responsible for the horror and seem like an appropriate idea on the surface, your cat may be more afraid of something sneaking up on them than something that looks like a snake. .
Should you scare your cat with cucumbers? After watching the tenth video online of a cat being scared by a cucumber, you might be giddy with laughter and want to try it on your own cat. But like people, cats don’t like jumping fear. The adrenaline rush can lead to feelings of stress and panic. If a cat is repeatedly affected by it, they may even become anxious around you or at mealtimes. They may stop eating. Your cat may also injure itself and/or break something in the initial panic when they turn around and see the cucumber hiding behind them. Plus, it’s just about scaring your beloved cat with cucumbers. So, while those videos of cats being frightened by cucumbers initially seem like fun things to try with your own cats, buy them a catnip toy shaped like a cucumber and share them in-game together.
