ARE CATS REALLY AFRAID OF CUCUMBERS? WE ASKED THE EXPERTS

You’ve likely come across those viral videos while scrolling through your social media feed: a cat calmly eating its kibble or wet food, when, suddenly, it notices a cucumber sitting behind it.

The moment the cat spots the dark green object, chaos ensues. The cat leaps into the air, sometimes at impressive heights, and rushes away in terror… from a cucumber?

The videos suggest that cats are terrified of cucumbers, but experts in cat behavior aren’t so convinced. While they agree that the cats in these videos are frightened, they don’t believe cucumbers are the cause. Instead, they say the real culprit is often the cat’s owner.

Are cats really afraid of cucumbers?

We don’t have a complete understanding of cat behavior. As the New York Times recently pointed out, cats are often overlooked in research. Some experts speculate that the cucumber might resemble a snake, an animal that could be dangerous to cats in the wild. However, Katenna Jones, a cat and dog behaviorist, isn’t convinced by this theory.

“There might be an evolutionary link where cats think it’s a snake because their ancestors were preyed upon by snakes,” Jones explained. But in her extensive experience with cats, she’s found that most cats couldn’t care less about cucumbers or other similarly shaped objects. In a YouTube video, she demonstrated a cat barely reacting to a cucumber, as well as to a carrot and even a Twix bar.

What we do know is that cats have earned their “scaredy-cat” reputation for a reason. As Katenna Jones explains, they are a prey species, and in the wild, they’re constantly on guard for potential threats.

“It takes a lot for a cat to feel secure enough to put their head down and turn their back to an open space in order to eat,” Jones said. “When they do it repeatedly and nothing bad happens, they begin to assume it’s safe.”

So when we see these viral videos, we’re actually watching a cat in a rare moment of vulnerability—relaxed, trusting that their environment is secure. Suddenly, a large unfamiliar object appears behind them, and that trust is shattered in an instant.

Their intense reaction, Jones said, is much like how a person might respond to unexpectedly finding a spider in the shower: “It’s going to scare you. And in the cat’s case, it’s a large, dark object that wasn’t there a second ago.”

Jones emphasized that it’s the combination of being in a relaxed, defenseless state and then encountering something unfamiliar and potentially threatening that triggers the dramatic response.

Feline behaviorist Jane Ehrlich, of Cattitude Feline Behavior Counseling, also raised questions about what might be happening behind the scenes of these videos. Did the person filming make a sound? Was there sudden movement off-camera that startled the cat?

What do the cats’ reactions to the cucumbers tell us?

Both Ehrlich and Jones agree that the cats in the videos are exhibiting signs of extreme stress. “They’re reacting exactly as they would if they believed a predator was nearby,” Jones said. In other words, these aren’t funny quirks—they’re fear responses.

In these videos, the cat being filmed typically jumps straight up into the air with an arched back, with their  fur puffed up in order to appear larger and more threatening. “It is defensive, not offensive,” Ehrlich said of their reactions. “That is definitely fear.” 

If these fearful moments are a one-off incident, the cat will likely be fine. But chronic stressors can exacerbate compulsive behaviors, aggression, and health issues, such as skin and digestive sensitivity, Jones said. It could also fracture your relationship with your pet.

What’s a better way to have fun with your cat?

There are far better ways to laugh with your cat instead of at them. Give your pet some agency, Jones advised. If you’re holding your pet Garfield and he wants to get down, let him get down. (Do not, however, give him the lasagne he demands.)

Allow your cat to have different experiences, so you can discover their personality, Jones said. For example, one of her cats loves “helping” her make the bed each morning. Another loves twisty ties from a loaf of bread.

And play the way your cat is telling you they want to play, Ehrlich said. Some cats, for example, might gravitate toward toys that resemble ground prey such as a lizard, while others may enjoy toys that mimic birds.

Just don’t try to scare your cat, Jones said. “Fear isn’t funny for the one that’s receiving it.”