Q: Are cats really scared of cucumbers? Or is it a myth? If they are, why?
A: For a while, videos circled the internet of cats reacting in fear to cucumbers placed near them while they weren’t looking. The cat would notice the cucumber and jump away from it, seemingly in intense fear. These videos became popular and many people found them amusing. But they’re not. Causing fear in an animal, especially in their own home, is cruel and unnecessary.
But why this phenomenon? Are cats naturally fearful of cucumbers? The answer is no. If cats encounter a cucumber on their own terms, they may ignore it or investigate it. But if it’s placed behind them and they encounter it unexpectedly, it gives them a fright.
Imagine sitting peacefully eating your dinner. Someone sneaks up behind you and places a teddy bear just behind you without you noticing. You finish your meal happily and turn around. Chances are, you might be startled at the sight of a teddy bear where you weren’t expecting to see one. Cats are naturally reactive to anything that sneaks up on them – it’s a simple survival mechanism. It doesn’t have to be a cucumber. Almost anything appearing unexpectedly behind a cat could cause a fearful reaction. And of course, many of these videos show cats eating – an activity that they usually associate with security. Novelty and unexpectedness during a normally safe activity is likely to startle any animal. And that’s what makes it an especially nasty thing to do.
Katherine Brown, behaviourist
