Did you know that cats are scared of cucumbers?

AllThingsTech · Tuesday at 22:07

Placing a cucumber behind a cat while it’s eating appears to startle them, causing some cats to leap into the air with fright. Cats’ natural startle reflexes, where they often try to get out as quickly as possible and reassess from a distance, are triggered, according to a certified animal behaviourist.

Why are cats scared of cucumbers?

Placing a cucumber behind a cat causes them to leap into the air in fright

www.independent.co.uk

Retro · Tuesday at 22:26

I've moved this to Serious Animals, because cats are scared shitless by this, not happy. It does look a bit funny and facepalmy even to me who loves cats, but one shouldn't cause this kind of sudden stress to cats, who are naturally highly strung animals already. It's ok to talk about this subject however, so the thread stays up.

Everyone: please don't post videos of such startled cats though. You can find them easily enough with a Google search if you want to see what it looks like.

AllThingsTech · Tuesday at 22:27

Oops! Sorry Retro, I somehow missed that section!

Retro · Tuesday at 22:31

S'ok, I know you didn't mean anything by it.

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T00:07:02+0100

Retro said:
It does look a bit funny and facepalmy even to me who loves cats, but one shouldn't cause this kind of sudden stress to cats, who are naturally highly strung animals already.

Cats may mistake cucumber for snakes, potential deadly predators. There’s also the territorial concern where cucumbers are placed by the cat food, given the cat’s perception as a threat to its food source!

I know you’re a cat lover @Retro , wondered if you were previously aware of this?

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T00:08:19+0100

@Mars

@Tiffany

@FF

@Hitcore

@data66

y’all cat lovers, ya gonna love this thread

Mars · 2025-07-02T14:42:06+0100

OK, thought I'd give it a try: placed a cucumber on the table right beside kitty, while he was 'grooming' himself: no reaction.
Then later, placed a cucumber on the floor by his bowl, as he was having his breakfast: he couldn't care less, like it wasn't even there.
So, I guess it depends on the cat; ours was not fazed by it at all.

Retro · 2025-07-02T14:57:21+0100

Mars, the trick is to place it stealthily behind and to the side so the cat is unaware of its presence until they look round. I have to admit it's kind of funny when they jump, but it's just so naughty to do it...

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T15:04:27+0100

Mars said:
OK, thought I'd give it a try: placed a cucumber on the table right beside kitty, while he was 'grooming' himself: no reaction.
Then later, placed a cucumber on the floor by his bowl, as he was having his breakfast: he couldn't care less, like it wasn't even there.
So, I guess it depends on the cat; ours was not fazed by it at all.

Interesting, thanks for sharing! I watched the documentary “Inside the mind of a feline”. It explains that cats have different personalities just like us humans e.g. some are super quiet while others are as energetic as dogs, and cats’ reactions are often driven by past experiences. For example, cats who’ve been abused in the past may be distrustful towards all humans.

I also learnt that once cats change ownership and get acclimated to their new owner, memories of their old owner fades over time, and so will no longer be affectionate towards their old owner. Would you say this is true of all cats?

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T15:05:08+0100

Retro said:
Mars, the trick is to place it stealthily behind and to the side so the cat is unaware of its presence until they look round. I have to admit it's kind of funny when they jump, but it's just so naughty to do it...

Have you ever tried such with your cat, Retro?

Mars · 2025-07-02T18:20:07+0100

Retro said:
Mars, the trick is to place it stealthily behind and to the side so the cat is unaware of its presence until they look round. I have to admit it's kind of funny when they jump, but it's just so naughty to do it...

Not really a good idea to approach or do anything in stealth where moggy is concerned, it would be a sure way to lose their trust; more so should they be startled as a result.
Even if I could do it so that he would not understand it was me, I would not like to startle him, you never know what reaction may ensue, I seen some videos of cats startled by an innocent cucumber, didn't like it at all.

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:21:56+0100

Exactly, that's why I said not to post any videos of it in post 2 and I'm surprised you tried it with your cat.

Imagine how it feels to go from blissfully happy to jumping out of your skin in about a millisecond. Not pleasant at all.

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:23:10+0100

AllThingsTech said:
Have you ever tried such with your cat, Retro?

Alas I don't have a cat, as much as I would like one and no, I wouldn't if I did for the reasons I've explained above.

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:27:38+0100

Retro said:
Alas I don't have a cat, as much as I would like one and no, I wouldn't if I did for the reasons I've explained above.

I thought you posted up on a picture of your cat on FF?

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:28:48+0100

AllThingsTech said:
I also learnt that once cats change ownership and get acclimated to their new owner, memories of their old owner fades over time, and so will no longer be affectionate towards their old owner. Would you say this is true of all cats?

@Retro I’m curious on your experiences

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:31:08+0100

Nope, not me. I do post pictures of cats there, but none are mine, mostly cutenesses found on Google searches.

I have no idea if that's true. I know that they can forget people if they've not seen them in a while though. This very much depends on the cat and their relationship with the person.

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:31:56+0100

Retro said:
Nope, not me. I do post pictures of cats there, but none are mine, mostly cutenesses found on Google searches.

Your profile photo?

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:34:23+0100

Kitty off the internet.

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:34:25+0100

Retro said:
I have no idea if that's true. I know that they can forget people if they've not seen them in a while though. This very much depends on the cat and their relationship with the person.

It’s interesting cuz in that documentary they ran away from their previous owner who they were extremely affectionate towards in the past!

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:35:11+0100

Retro said:
Kitty off the internet.

Aww, what do you like about that cat in particular?

I actually really love the profile picture of @FF soooo much - so cute!!!

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:35:46+0100

Omg @Retro we so badly need a

reaction, ya cat lover!

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:36:23+0100

Oh man, that must have been so cutting, lol. They'd soon get used to them again though.

It's just cute they way it's a kitten sitting like that.

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:42:39+0100

Retro said:
It's just cute they way it's a kitten sitting like that.

Yours or @FF ? I feel this way about @FF ’s cat

Gosh Retro, you just happened to be last seen a moment ago over there as soon as i logged in lmao

Retro said:
Oh man, that must have been so cutting, lol. They'd soon get used to them again though.

I wonder whether they would become acquainted more quickly if they developed a loving relationship in the past, or whether it’s a completely clean slate!

Retro · 2025-07-02T18:44:44+0100

AllThingsTech said:
Yours or @FF ? I feel this way about @FF ’s cat

You asked me about my profile cat, so was talking about that. Surely that's clear, no?

AllThingsTech · 2025-07-02T18:46:08+0100

Retro said:
You asked me about my profile cat, so was talking about that. Surely that's clear, no?

Yeah just cuz i commented on @FF ’s cat

Sorry i lost the plot

Did you know that cats are scared of cucumbers?

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Well-known member

Moderator

Founder

Well-known member

Well-known member

Moderator

Founder

Founder

Well-known member

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Founder

Well-known member

Similar threads

We value your privacy