Like other fruits that are safe for cats, cucumbers are a safe snack for your kitty.
Cats should get all the nutrients they need from high-quality, complete cat foods. However, cucumbers aren't toxic for cats, and their low calorie and sugar content means that you don't have to worry about the effects of an occasional piece of cucumber on your cat's weight.
Although probably not as appetizing as your cats canned protein, cucumbers are safe for cats to eat and provide some specific health benefits. With its mild taste and high water content, cucumbers can be a reasonable easy-eating snack for your cat.
Cats react because cucumbers look like snakes
To a feline's eyes a cucumber can look similar enough to the pesky reptile to elicit their fear response and make them jump a few feet in the air to avoid being bitten.
(Animal behavior specialists also have other theories, including that the cats might think the cucumber is a deadly snake or other predator.) However, National Geographic reports that your cat's fright is more harmful than hilarious. While the cucumber isn't stressful to you, it's stressful to the cat.
Cucumbers are a favorite food for many humans, and some cats love them, too. It may be good to know that you and they can indulge in them together! Not only will they not hurt your kitty, but they may also add some healthy nutrients to their diet and help stave off thirst and dehydration!
"Cats are genetically hard-wired through instinct to avoid snakes," Con Slobodchikoff, animal behaviorist and author of "Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals," said. "Cucumbers look enough like a snake to have the cat's instinctive fear of snakes kick in."
While bananas are not toxic to felines, they can cause them some stomach upset so it may be linked to an innate sense of distrust. Similarly to the cucumber videos, bananas have a vague snake shape to them and putting it down silently may cause alarm for your pet.
Cats are hypersensitive to their surroundings, so it's the sudden appearance of a random object that has them spooked. Cucumbers also look quite snake-like on first glance, so this may be why this vegetable provokes such an extreme reaction. Please don't try this at home, though – it's stressful for the cats!
I asked a friend who keeps inside cats about your observation. She said, “Strawberries and mint plants apparently have a chemical profile similar to nepetalactol, the attractant found in catnip. I have seen videos of cats rubbing their faces on strawberry baskets. Something definitely appeals to them.”
False. Cats are not afraid of cucumbers, but they get scared if they see a sudden change in the environment around them.
Loud noises
In the home, cats are often scared of noisy household appliances, especially if they didn't become accustomed to them as young kittens. Vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, printers, washing machines and hairdryers are common culprits.
If you want some cat-friendly air fresheners, there are certain smells that cats love. “Cats love the smell of catnip, olives, non-citrus fruit for the most part and plants like honeysuckle,” Dr. Evans said. A lot of cats like the scent of valerian root, “which induces a similar euphoria to catnip,” Hudson said.
Some cats completely ignore the reflected kitty while others are curious, possibly wondering why this other feline doesn't have a unique scent. Still, other cats may exhibit aggressive or fearful behavior when they see their reflection. If your cat is showing a negative reaction, there are ways you can help.
Cats hate the scent of lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges. It's not the taste though. Some citrus fruits, especially lemon, can be mildly toxic to cats if ingested. No wonder they want to stay away!
Steer clear of: Cherries are toxic to cats and dogs, and grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage. Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and grapefruit as well as persimmons can cause an upset stomach.
Felines can handle a lick of honey, but consuming it in large portions will overstress their digestive system and lead to gagging, regurgitation, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
So remember, nonfat plain yogurt is usually safe and healthy for cats and dogs to eat as a fun snack — just check the nutrition label first to make sure it doesn't contain a dangerous ingredient, like xylitol. And for even more power-packed benefits, consider adding a daily probiotic to their regimen.
Cheese is not a natural part of a cat's diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they can only get necessary nutrients from meat. But even though cheese is also high in protein, it can upset a cat's delicate digestive system. The reason for this is that cats don't tolerate dairy very well.
Yes, cats can eat eggs. Fully cooked eggs are a great nutritional treat for cats. Eggs are packed with nutrients, like amino acids, which are the building blocks to protein, and they're also highly digestible. Scrambled, boiled, however you choose to prepare them is fine.
While many "people foods," like chocolate, are toxic for cats and other pets, and they should be avoided altogether, bananas aren't toxic to pets. It is one of the fruits that cats can eat safely in small portions.
Though cats can eat some vegetables, onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, shallots, and chives are particularly harmful to cats, causing gastrointestinal problems and even damage to red blood cells. Foods containing these vegetables and herbs, such as garlic bread, should be avoided, as well.
In the case of sharing tomatoes with your cat, a few small nibbles of the ripened flesh of a tomato is likely not a cause for concern. However, not fully ripe tomatoes, stems, and leaves should definitely be avoided. If your cat eats any of the above, please contact your veterinarian right away.