Why cats are afraid of cucumbers & why you should never scare them with them

A cat that is afraid of a cucumber that suddenly appears to it is one of the most classic videos that can be found on YouTube. This scene has gone viral, so it's reasonable to wonder why cats are afraid of cucumbers.

But is it so? Is there a specific fear or is there something else going on?

There is an explanation for this.

Why are cats afraid of cucumbers?

Such videos show that the cat is really afraid of the cucumber, which usually appears from behind her while she is eating, causing her to be so startled that she jumps in surprise and fear.

And it may seem strange to us that the kitty is so afraid of an innocent vegetable, but in reality it is not an irrational reaction. The cucumber may remind her of a snake. Even if the kitten has never seen a snake in her life, her hunting instinct tells her that it is something dangerous. After all, all cats are predators by nature.

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Why you should never scare a cat with a cucumber

Of course, it is very possible that the cat is not afraid of the cucumber and that this is all a myth. In fact, the cat's startled reaction is rather to the sudden stimulus while it is eating.

All animals are devoted to their food, so it's only natural that they startle if something suddenly appears from behind them. Even if it's something junky, like a vegetable. It is nature's instinct that indicates to them that there may be some danger that they do not see.

Therefore, it may seem funny to us, but to the kitty it is not at all. The point is for her to feel comfortable and safe in her home and especially while eating. With such pranks, all we succeed in doing is creating insecurities for her that can lead her to phobic behaviors. Or even refusing to eat.

What matters is that the cat trusts us and not fears us. And it's really a shame to create fear in the animal, just to get a laugh or gain some views.