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I'm sure you've already seen a video that's been circulating on the internet in which you can see several cats getting scared by cucumbers. This famous video that went viral shouldn't cause us so much laughter, because remember that cats are easily scared and although it may sound funny, for them it isn't.
At PeritoAnimal we will explain this phenomenon to you. Find out what happens to cucumbers and cats, why they jump so much and how such a harmless vegetable can trigger this reaction in our pets.
Curiosity killed the cat
If you have a cat as a pet you will know very well how curious they are and that it is precisely this innate curiosity that makes them sometimes get into trouble. Don't forget that these little beasts have a predatory instinct, they do things on the sly and like to investigate everything.
By studying cats' body language a little, you can tell if your friend is upset, happy, investigating something, aware of what's going on around him, or if something has surprised him because he wasn't expecting it. Cats like to have their surroundings controlled and anything (object, sound, full, etc.) that is unknown can present an imminent danger.
In the videos that have become so popular, an unknown object appears out of nowhere even behind the cat and, no doubt, these pose a threat to the unexpected feline, prompting immediate evasive action.
the cucumber of terror
The truth is, cats aren't afraid of cucumbers. Cucumbers are a harmless vegetable that has nothing to do with cats' immediate flight response.
Due to the turmoil caused by the cats vs. viral video. cucumbers, some experts appeared trying to shed some light on this. Biologist Jerry Coine talks about his theory of "fear of the predator", where he explains that the reaction of cats to cucumbers is directly related to the fear that they can face natural predators such as snakes.
On the other hand, animal behavior expert Roger Mugford has a simpler explanation for the phenomenon, stating that the root of this behavior has to do with "fear of the unknown" instead of the fear cats have of cucumbers.
Of course, your cat will be equally surprised if he finds a banana, a pineapple, a teddy bear, as long as it is something he has never seen and that has invaded his space without his realizing it.
Check out the fruits that cats can eat in this PeritoAnimal article.
Don't scare your cat, that's not good!
Cats are solitary animals and very cautious, as they have spent some time trying to understand the strange behavior of the humans with whom they share their territory. Remember that we human beings are one of nature's most sociable animals, unlike your cat, which certainly doesn't seem very normal to you.
As funny as it may sound, scaring your cat is not a positive thing to no one. Your pet will no longer feel safe at home and if, in addition, you frighten them while eating, you can put their health at risk. The food area is one of the most sacred areas for cats, where they feel calm and relaxed.
The reactions observed in the videos do not let us see that these cats are under a lot of stress, something that is not good for any living being and even less for felines that are by nature suspicious and scared.
There are many ways to have fun with a pet, there are many cat toys with which you can spend entertaining moments with your little friend, so think carefully about the consequences before trying to have fun at the expense of the animal's suffering. so much like.
It may also interest you: Do cats know when we are afraid?
