Unsuspecting Cats Get Completely Startled By Cucumbers

#1 Here Is How It Works

Find an unsuspecting cat, distracted by eating its dinner or playing with a toy. Place a cucumber down behind it or beside it, and wait. Watch as the cat finally turns and notices the cucumber and freaks the f*** out.

#2 Cool As A Cucumber

These cats are not as cool as their stealthy stalkers, the humble garden cucumber. But that has not stopped cat owners from making a hilarious video of their cat being startled, frightened, or even jumping wildly into the air for their amusement. Amusing as it seems, it can be dangerous for your cat.

#3 They Just Lose It

It turns out that cats are deathly afraid of cucumbers, or anything placed in the space surrounding their food bowl. As the cat turns around and spots the unexpected item, it loses its mind, leaps into the air, screams out, and gets away from it as fast as it can.

But why?

#5 It's Not The Cucumber

It's not the cucumber itself that is frightening your kitty. It's the invasion in their space that makes them run like a wild cat as far away as possible. Many people on the internet believe cucumber's magical cat-disarming properties are down to its resemblance to a snake.

#4 Element Of Surprise

An unexpected grapefruit would likely be just as jarring to the cat. The fright is likely due to the surprise element of having an unexpected object placed into their territory without notice. Especially while they are calm and enjoying their meal.

#6 They Are Suspicious

While the cucumber isn't stressful to you, it's stressful to the cat. Cats are known to be very suspicious of anything that moves rapidly, makes a lot of noise, appears out of nowhere, or lights up erratically, like a laser light. Essentially, cats are afraid of anything that they don't fully understand, like an object placed in their surroundings they have never seen before.

#7 It Can Cause Undo Stress

Since your cat usually has positive associations with the space surrounding its food bowl, you're startling it while it's in its comfort zone. In worst case scenarios, it can react by hurting itself, breaking a household object, remaining anxious, or even hiding in a dark corner or closet for days with issues associated with going near the area they cucumber was spotted.

#8 Cats Are Predators

Cats have to be suspicious of the unknown. That is in their nature as predators living in the wild. The cucumber could represent the danger of a snake or another feline predator. There would be the same reaction to a model spider, a plastic fish or even a new toy placed beside them.

#9 Both Funny And Devastating

The cat videos jumping at the sight of a common cucumber ar both devastating and hilarious. However, unless you plan on causing your family pet long term issues that could result in other unwanted behaviors, slowly introduce new toys and objects to your cat, as they're a source of mental stimulation. Just don't unexpectedly give it a cucumber, or for that matter, any other new item that might cause distress.