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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cats dislike the smell of rue, lavender and pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme. Plant a few of these throughout the garden. (Interplanting can attract pollinators and other beneficial insects too.) Cats steer clear of strong citrus scents.
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.
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.
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.
More interestingly, cats lack taste receptors for sweetness, as Scientific American explains. If you're expecting your cat to enjoy the sweetness of a carrot, they won't be reacting the way you'd hope. They may respond positively to the texture though, as they do with many types of vegetables and grains.
Many cats enjoy crunchy carrots, but felines don't experience sweetness the way humans do because their taste receptors can't detect sugar. If your cat is eager to eat carrots, they might love something else about the taste, or they may simply like the vegetable's texture.
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.
It's Not The Fruit; It's The Peel
Some pretty astute cat lovers on a recent Quora forum weighed in on the topic with a surprising suggestion: It's not that cats don't like bananas themselves (which are edible to them), but rather that cats don't like the smell of bananas.
“If they turn around and suddenly see a cucumber there, it causes them to jump and become frightened,” says Dr. Sievert. “If you've ever watched your cat, you'll know that he's aware of everything around him, and if something moves suddenly or unexpectedly, he will react to it.
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.
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.
Mix together lemon juice, rosemary and white vinegar - three things cats detest. Put the liquid in a spray bottle so it's easy to use around the garden. Simply spray near where the cats spend time - on planters, the patio, or even inside.
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.
Most cats don't like apples and would actually rather enjoy tasty cat-specific treats instead . However, when giving your cat treats, always make sure that treats don't form more than 10% of their daily diet, with the other 90% of their nutrition coming from their complete and balanced cat food.
Citrus: orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit
Citrus smells are widely reported as being repugnant to cats. You can use this to your advantage by throwing orange peels around your garden to keep cats away or spritzing a citrus scent on indoor fabric that you don't want your cat scratching up.
Use scent to keep the cats away
Cats dislike the smell of rue, lavender, marigolds, pennyroyal, Coleus canina, and lemon thyme — so plant a few of these throughout the garden space. As a bonus, interplanting will attract pollinators and can help to avoid pests too.
5 SMELLS CATS DISLIKE
Mint - This one's a toss-up, but cats who really dislike mint are demonstrating good sense: from peppermint to the wintergreen herb, these mints contain salicylate, a substance toxic to cats. Cayenne Pepper Capsaicin doesn't just chase me away - it repels cats as well!
Weak - On top of low energy, your cat could also experience severe weakness. Weak cats might have trouble supporting their body or moving as usual. Kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease are all common health problems associated with weakness in felines.