"Anything that looks like a snake should produce the instinctive fear response," Slobodchikoff said. “Cucumbers are shaped more like snakes, with their curving sides, than ears of corn or eggplants, so they produce a greater response." But don't go trying to prank your cat with cucumber-shaped objects just yet.
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.
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.
A cat sees that cucumber is a threat, and when confronted with a "threatening situation," explain PAWS Chicago, cats respond with fear and anxiety. This instinctive reaction is visible when a cat is surprised by a cucumber: jumping up or, conversely, freezing in place; fur standing up; yelping and so on.
Keep the cucumbers away from the kitty!
Videos starring cats afraid of cucumbers are popping up all over the Internet. In the videos, the felines face away, and their owners secretly place a cucumber behind them. When the cats turn around, they are startled by the fruit that wasn't there beforehand, often leaping back.
According to the ASPCA, cats typically dislike the smell of citrus, so using orange, lemon or lime peels sprinkled around plants can help keep cats away. Using the oils of these citrus fruits is also a smart solution, since they are nontoxic to humans and cats.
"Cucumbers look enough like a snake to have the cat's instinctive fear of snakes kick in."
Feeding cats bananas
Keep in mind that your cat may appear interested in the banana, but once you offer it, they may turn away in disgust. Banana peels contain ethyl acetate, which smells bad to cats. This is why you see so many videos on social media of cats being scared of bananas.
Since most cats dislike the way aluminum foil feels and sounds under their paws, it can be an effective deterrent for keeping them off of a surface you don't want them to walk on.
It has a strange sound
And believe it or not, aluminum foil actually makes high-pitched sounds that humans can't hear but your cat definitely can. “Cats have extremely acute hearing, and the strange crinkly noise that the foil makes when touched can be irritating to their ears,” Dr.
Quick Solutions: Scatter fresh orange and lemon peels or spray with citrus scented fragrances. Coffee grounds, vinegar, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, lemongrass, citronella or eucalyptus also deter cats. Plant the herb rue to repel cats, or sprinkle dried rue over the garden.
Do Cats Enjoy Eating Carrots? Even though carrots are a safe food for them, cats won't always jump at the chance to eat them. Some cats are pickier than others, just like humans, and it's possible that they refuse to eat them.
Cats have only 480 taste buds, and they only have taste receptors for salty, sour, and bitter. Like dogs, cats have a strong sense of smell and dislike anything that tastes bitter.
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.
The second part of the outdoor cat predator problem is that cats are themselves prey. They will be killed by coyotes, eagles, owls, raccoons, dogs and otters. Two cats were killed by an otter when the cats got to close to their nest. Cars and humans also kill cats.
Cucumbers aren't the only grocery which cats are unimpressed by, bananas are also a no-go. Cats have a sense of smell which is 14 times stronger than our own so strong odours like fruity scents can be too much for their sensitive snoots.
But what exactly about this tropical fruit makes feline instincts go haywire? The culprit might be the banana peel itself which emanates ethyl acetate. Cats are not big fans of the smell, prompting some owners to rub banana peels on their favourite furniture to keep it safe from cat's paws.
Onions and cats don't get along and the combination results in more damage than simply burning eyes and cascading tears. Onions can actually break down a cat's red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Cats love the soft to firm texture, flavor, and smell of the shrimp and can enjoy it as a healthy snack. Shrimp is a good source of protein, phosphorous, selenium, choline, copper, iodine and vitamin B12. A shrimp, commonly referred to as a prawn, is an animal classified as decapod crustaceans that live in the water.
Cats dislike the strong smell of citrus. Try mixing ten drops of capsicum and lemon oil, one quart of water, and twenty drops of peppermint oil. Blend and shake well. Then, spray onto upholstery, carpet, furniture, and around the plants.