Are cats cucumber cowards? Or are they courageous kitties? Because many cat owners find themselves asking, “Why are cats scared of cucumbers?” – as there are lots of funny cat videos posted where their feline friend seems to have an aversion to the commonly-pickled veggie!
Why are cats afraid of cucumbers?
- They think cucumbers look like snakes!
In one Reader’s Digest interview with Dr. Claudine Sievert, she hypothesizes that cats are afraid of cucumbers because they look similar to snakes! According to the Kansas-based veterinarian, “Cats see an elongated green object and think it’s a snake, so they run from it.”
This explanation makes a whole lot of sense – snakes, after all, are known predators that can attack humans. Therefore, it’s very likely that cats – a much smaller creature than us – would be wary when they encounter snakes…or snake-looking vegetables, in this case!
- Cats don’t like unfamiliar objects (and vegetables, for this matter)!
If curiosity can kill a cat, cucumbers can also corner a cat into a panic – especially if they’ve never seen one before! Just like many new things we introduce our cats to, cucumbers can just be one of the many things that they’ll very likely approach with caution.
Cucumbers are probably not the only vegetable – or object, in general – that they’ll be vigilant about. If you pay attention to your cat, you’ll notice that most unfamiliar objects, when you present it to your little fuzzy friend, they’ll be vigilant about it.
- They don’t like sneak attacks!
Cats are fastidious animals. They’re always concerned about their surroundings. Sometimes, it’s not even the cucumber that they’re afraid of, per se – it’s probably the fact that in their eyes, a random cucumber seemingly appeared on the floor out of nowhere!
Cucumber or not, an object suddenly appearing will baffle most animals – perhaps even us humans too! Cats will probably approach with hesitation to other fruits and vegetables when they just magically materialize out of thin air!
If cats aren’t scared of cucumbers, then what are cats commonly afraid of?
- Loud noises
Cats are already on high alert for the majority of their time – that’s why it’s best not to startle their vigilant senses with loud noises. Heck, there’s probably not a single person who likes loud noises – no matter how familiar the noise is to us. And it’s probably worse for pets where they’re unaware of our “hooman” antics and habits!
We celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks – because we’re taught that fireworks just make noises. But cats don’t know human history like that! We’re also aware of how the hair dryer works – but cats don’t! So, to them, these are indeed scary sounds. That’s why if you can, try to limit the noises you make.
- Strangers
Most living organisms – from bugs to sea critters – are predisposed to react in various ways for the sake of survival. That’s why many creatures have a defense mechanism in their arsenal, in case their safety is jeopardized!
Cats are no exception – not even humans! That’s why when they’re approached by strangers, it triggers their fight-or-flight response. After all, they have no idea what this person (or other type of animal) can possibly do to them.
- Being away from their territory
If you look at the pattern of cats’ fears, you’ll notice that they’re mostly afraid of unfamiliarity. And this includes their surroundings. If a cat has an owner, they’ll most likely spend the majority of their lives in the house that they’re accustomed to. To them, that’s a part of their territory.
Even feral or street cats have a safe space for them. That’s why if they get lost – whether by accident or someone drives them away from their dwelling – they’ll naturally be afraid of the new environment they’ll end up in.
They’ll most likely fear the new location they’re in because they don’t know if another territorial cat already resides in the area, there are probably bigger, stronger, or meaner animals that could hurt them, and they have no assurance that they’ll find food for survival, etc.
In relation to this,
Please don’t abandon cats and leave them in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of animal rehabilitation centers and shelters are ready to take them in. Abandoning a pet is also considered by many states as a form of animal cruelty – you’ll likely face legal consequences if you abandon animals!
- Bathtime
While cats don’t exactly fear water (as they need to drink it to survive), many of them dislike bathing – mainly because they don’t like how it feels on their fur!
Cats already constantly groom themselves. They don’t see the point in why they have to be bathed! It may sound silly to us humans – as most of us shower every day – but it kind of makes sense. Therefore, unless your cat is visibly dirty, then it’s probably the only time you should bathe your furry feline pal!
No Scaredy Cats Here!
Felines are fearless! Well…most of the time, at least. But to answer the longstanding question, “Why are cats afraid of cucumbers?” – Here’s what you should know: cats aren’t exactly scared of the veggie! They just don’t know why a cucumber seemingly randomly appeared out of nowhere.
We’d also like to add that inducing fear in a cat is never a good idea. Even if it’s meant as a harmless prank that’s supposed to be funny, cats won’t understand the intent of it.
Please find other ways to have fun with your cat without harming them. Such as our blog post about DIY Low-Cost Fun Cat Activities that we recently posted!
