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.
There's even an entire Cucumbers Scaring Cats Reddit community. But National Geographic says the prank is not only cruel, it's also bad for cats' health. “Trying to startle your cat on purpose could cause them to injure themselves, break something, or lead to prolonged stress,” National Geographic wrote in its article.
Goldman explains that the cucumbers are triggering the cats' natural startle responses, since they “would not normally see cucumbers on the floor.” It's also possible they may associate the green invader with snakes, which can be deadly predators, Goldman adds.
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 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."
The mystery of why cats hate cucumbers is normally explained by the natural fear cats have towards 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.
“Some people believe that cucumbers look like a snake, which is a predator that has been known to attack and even eat cats,” explains Claudine Sievert, DVM, a Kansas-based veterinarian. “Cats see an elongated green object and think it's a snake, so they run from it.”
Aluminum foil also has some unique properties that make it particularly alarming to cats upon their first encounter. When moved, bent, or stepped on, the foil has a very distinct high-pitched crinkling sound. Crinkling aluminum foil actually emits a sound so high-pitched that it reaches into the ultrasonic range.
When given in moderation, cucumbers can be a healthy snack for cats with acute digestive problems. Besides being 95% water, the cucurbit contains approximately two grams of soluble fibre, which is generally good for the gut and can help with hairball digestion.
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.
Closing a door prevents them from accessing all parts of their own territory which is something that territorial creatures hate!
The term "pussycat" is a term of endearment often used to describe cats, especially by those who adore them. The term originated from the word "pussy" which is derived from the Old English word "puse" or "pusa" meaning "pocket" or "pouch". In the Middle Ages, this word was commonly used to describe a bag or purse.
"It doesn't just benefit your cat, so skip out on this trend," Lusvardi says. Frightening your cat with a cucumber can make them feel stressed out and fearful at home. Over time, that can cause negative behaviors like aggression and marking their territory with urine.
So, is it safe to give cats bites of cucumber or a sip of cucumber water? The answer, in a word, is yes! It's just important to remember that just as big cats in the wild need animal protein to survive, so does your ball of fluff, so reserve cukes for an occasional treat, not as a substitute for their regular food.
Make sure you wash the cucumber before giving it to your cat
It's also a good idea to wash the cucumber before cutting it into small pieces for your cat, as this will help to remove any dirt. Now that you know if cats can eat cucumbers, you're probably also wondering if cucumbers are truly a feline nemesis.
Citrus or lemon scents (orange peels, lemon peels), garlic, ammonia, vinegar, coffee grinds, pipe tobacco, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus all deter cats as well. The scents diminish over time, so re-applying is necessary. Motion-activated sprinklers: These have motion sensors that trigger a short blast of water.
Many things can attract stray cats to your home, from the type of food you leave outside overnight to the available shelter in your backyard. Even the plants in your garden can lure a stray or feral cat into your yard for snacking or to mark their territory.
Texture: Sticky paper, aluminum foil, heavy plastic or a plastic carpet runner (knubby side up) can be placed in areas you want to be off limits. Cats hate walking on these surfaces. Smell: Citronella, perfumes, solid air fresheners, citrus, aloe, eucalyptus oil and oil of wintergreen are all aversive smells to cats.
Many pet owners and experts recommend putting aluminum foil on countertops to curb your cat's counter-hopping enthusiasm. The combination of the noise of crinkled foil and the unpleasant feeling may be enough to keep them off the counter.
herb rue, either planted or sprinkled in its dry form. Orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, & mustard oil.
Snakes consider cats to be predators and are scared of them. However, it doesn't guarantee that having cats around will keep snakes from coming near. The snake may detect other things in the area—such as mice or birds—that it likes to eat.
Vinegar, soap, and other household cleaners
Eye-watering vinegar-based smells are disliked by cats—as are other strong-smelling household cleaners, like soap and bleach. Because vinegar is non-toxic, it's a go-to for use as a cat-repellant and pet-safe cleaner.
Because they are calorie-rich, bananas are not at the top of the cat treat list, and your cat may not even want to eat bananas. As Cat Health points out, a cat's "sweet" taste bud receptors are not very strong, so they are not instinctively drawn to sweet foods like bananas.