Why cats are terrified of cucumbers: an authoritative scientific opinion (2 photos)

The internet is full of videos of cats panicking when they see a cucumber nearby. Sometimes, the poor animals literally fly into the air in genuine terror, causing fits of uncontrollable hilarity in the cameraman and viewers. In these cases, cucumbers are the ones that trigger the fear, as experiments with other vegetables and objects end in failure. How can this behavior be explained?





Modern scientists studying cat behavior have put forward several hypotheses as to why cats are so afraid of cucumbers. Many, in fact, believe that cats are capable of being afraid of any unfamiliar object. But this theory doesn't hold up to scrutiny, as the internet is full of videos of cats being frightened by all sorts of things, to no avail.

A more plausible explanation is that cats mistake cucumbers for snakes. Animal psychologist Con Slobodchikoff argues that, back when all cats lived in the wild, reptiles were their worst enemies. Therefore, millennia later, these animals are genetically conditioned to panic at the sight of objects that resemble slithering reptiles. It doesn't matter that Murzik grew up on a couch and never saw a snake.

It sounds plausible, but some experts disagree with the animal psychologist. For example, feline behavior consultant Mikel Delgado, who has spent many years studying the relationships between people and their pets, believes that cautious animals are frightened by objects that suddenly appear where they weren't just there.

Many videos clearly show cucumbers being placed unnoticed by cats, or even tossed unexpectedly, out of sight. Wouldn't you be frightened if a bright object the size of your foot appeared out of nowhere near you? Animal psychologist Jill Goldman shares Delgado's opinion, but adds that when an unfamiliar object appears, a cat's defense mechanism is triggered, commanding it to immediately leave the strange place.



There are other hypotheses, but they're mostly humorous and therefore not worth our attention. However, it's important to remember that it's best not to joke around with cats like that. The fact is, cats are very sensitive, and scaring them with a cucumber can cause serious stress. This can not only affect their behavior, causing them to avoid you, but can also shorten their already short lifespan.