You've surely seen the viral videos where cats jump away in fright and are in complete shock because of a cucumber. Would you like to know the reason for this? Are cats afraid of this harmless vegetable, or is there another reason?
Are cats really afraid of something as harmless as a cucumber? If you think there must be something more to it, you're right. Cats aren't afraid of cucumbers themselves, it’s their natural reaction to get scared of anything that silently sneaks up to them, as is the case for humans and practically all other animals as well. Be honest, how many of you were scared by a prankster? If we didn't have this instinct, we wouldn't be here anymore.
Cats must be alert to predators, especially those that can sneak up on them unnoticed, like snakes. And, with a little imagination, you must admit that the cucumber may resemble a snake at first. It is therefore a simple reaction to an unexpected item appearing in an unexpected place. The cucumber's similarity to a snake increases their fright, but cats would be scared of almost any object that you would place behind them like that.
Cats are sharp, nimble animals and, as such, they are constantly on the alert and have good situational awareness. This is why virtually anything that sneaks up or crawls up to a cat can scare it, so it's no wonder that when you place this vegetable unnoticed behind a cat, when it's immersed in its bowl of food, for example, it jumps a meter into the air when it sees it.
A lot of people think this is a great, hilarious joke, but I wouldn't do it to my cat. What virtually all of these videos have in common, in addition to the cat's reaction, is the fact that the people place the cucumber behind it when it's feeding. Cats only eat when they are sure they're not in danger. In other words, cats perceive the place where their bowl is as an environment where they are perfectly safe. After this incident, however, they may become stressed when they eat or stop eating altogether. Sensitive individuals may experience long-term stress. Not to mention the fact that the cat's reaction will be to get away from the cucumber as quickly as possible, possibly harming itself or another family member.
So, please, don't destroy your cat's trust for a prank. Keep in mind that the cucumber really scares the cat. If you need to play a prank, leave your pets out of it; if you really must, you can scare your partner or a friend who can pay you back and who will not leave with long-term consequences.
If you have decided to buy a purebred cat, you still have a lot of questions ahead of you. Which breed should you choose? A female cat or a tomcat? A kitten or an adult? Only if you consider everything carefully, you'll get the right companion for...
Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same...
If you've noticed that your fluffy friend excessively licks and nibbles at his paws, you should not leave it like that. It might have several causes. Whether it's a psychological problem, allergy, yeast or other problem, the situation must be...
Did you know that our senses include the perception of the magnetic field? While we have almost lost this ability already, dogs still have it and use it every day. Do you know for what?
The British Shorthair cat is without a doubt the most popular cat breed not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the rest of Europe. This is caused not only by its appearance of a small Teddy bear, but also a mild, trouble-free nature.
In individual rodents, we’ll find breeds that are more popular with breeders than others. One of those is the American Teddy, typical with its peculiar hair structure that gives it the appearance of a teddy bear.
There is certainly no doubt that the Labrador belongs among the best known and most popular dog breeds. The reason is his extraordinary versatility, adaptability, intelligence and loyalty. Like the British Shorthair cat, the Labrador Retriever can be...
To spend a few days outside of civilisation - in the forest, on the ridges of the mountains - away from the hustle of the cities, in the wilderness and ideally with your dog. An imaginary return back to nature is the trend that did not avoid even the...
Hunting and exercise. If the dog loves both these activities, then coursing is the perfect activity for it. This cross-country race is based exactly on the desire of the dog to catch its prey.
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
Under the name of dogtrekking, imagine an orientation walk with the dog. Official rules rank it among extreme dog endurance sports.
There may be more causes of dog fear. And the first step to eliminate it is to find out its origin and cause.
