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Why Are Cats Afraid Of Cucumbers?

3 minutes
Funny videos of cats afraid of cucumbers are going viral. Cucumbers look enough like a snake to have the cat’s instinctive fear of snakes kick in.
Why Are Cats Afraid Of Cucumbers?
Last update: 04 February, 2019

If you don’t have a cat, or even if you do, this article will surprise you. Yes, cats are afraid of cucumbers! There are loads of videos on the Internet showing how cats are afraid of cucumbers and other fruit and vegetables. They’re pretty amusing too!

Funny videos showing how cats are afraid of cucumbers are popping up all over the Internet. In order for you to understand the serious side of all of this, we’re bringing you a video compilation so that you can see what we’re talking about.

Although the videos are entertaining, scaring cats with cucumbers at home is actually bad for their health.

Cats are afraid of cucumbers

It seems there is something about cucumbers which cats find unreasonably terrifying. But why? A cucumber is just a vegetable.

However, these videos are going viral on social networks, and it’s caught the eye of some researchers.

For example, biologist Jerry Coyne said that it’s possible that a cat’s first instinct is to assume the cucumber is a snake, which can be a deadly predator.

On the other hand, Roger Mugford calls it “the fear of the unknown”. Cucumbers have never been part of a cat’s life, so when they see one it’s normal for them to be surprised and scared. According to him, it would be the same reaction with a banana, a pineapple or an eggplant.

While we don’t know if these claims are true, we do know that cats are affected by them, as we’ve seen in the video. We recommend that you don’t use this vegetable to scare your cat. Why? Read on and see!

Don’t scare your cat

Although the videos showing cats getting scared of cucumbers and other fruit and veg are very funny, experts advise against trying any similar pranks at home with your cat, because it’s not good for their health. It could affect their hearts, and mean that they won’t feel safe at home.

If you put a cucumber near where cats eat, this can be traumatic for them, and your cat might become aggressive. The area where cats eat is like a safe refuge for them where they can feel calm and relaxed.

We shouldn’t be making them feel stressed, scared, or nervous. As we’ve seen in the video, their reactions are not overly pleasant ones. Do you really want to do that to your cat? Trying to do so could make your cat hurt itself as it tries to run away in panic.

Nowadays, there are thousands of different toys and games to play with your cat. You can have a fun time with them without scaring them.

Other things cats are irrationally afraid of

Despite cats’ innate curiosity and courage, there are other things that they’re afraid of:

  • Vacuum cleaners. Get it out and get ready to watch your cat jump and run, looking for a place to hide.
  • Teddy bears. These don’t scare all cats, but some aren’t too happy about them!
  • Fireworks. This is one of the few things that cats have in common with dogs. They are both afraid of loud noises, especially thunder and fireworks.
  • Fans. Cats see a fan and they’ll run away. The wind and the fast movement is too much for them.

Remember not to use anything that scares your cat just to have a laugh. It will be fun for you, but not for your cat.

Source of the main image: www.elnortedecastilla.es

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.