Cats and Cucumbers - Widebody???

[Craig T]

I saw this on Facebook this morning and it sparked my curiosity. I've never owned a cat due to allergies, but nothing against them. They're hilarious.

Widebody, or other cat lovers, why are cats afraid of cucumbers?

[afterburn 549]

Cats are great entertainment. plus some a real good watch cats !

[herr_oberst]

Snake!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

plus some a real good watch cats !

There's a big feral cat around here that stands up to my 150lbs boerboel. Won't back down an inch. Takes a strong leash and me yelling to keep them from fighting. I saw it running once with a baby rabbit in it's mouth. BADASS cat

[gacook]

I saw that on Facebook last week; kids and I got a great laugh out of it.

Apparently, the "trick" is to put it behind your cat while they're eating. I think it's less to do with them being afraid of cucumbers, as being more "shocked" that something which wasn't by their food bowl (safe place) when they walked up, is now there. I keep forgetting to test this theory with my cats...

[GH85Carrera]

I wonder if you put any object down behind them that was not there before they walked up to eat if they would have the same reaction.

Cat owner, experiment please. Try random objects please.

[sand_man]

Too funny!!!!

[Amail]

I tried that with my cat the other day, had the go pro going and everything. Just gave it a sniff and went back to eating his food.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by gacook

I think it's less to do with them being afraid of cucumbers, as being more "shocked" that something which wasn't by their food bowl (safe place) when they walked up, is now there.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I wonder if you put any object down behind them that was not there before they walked up to eat if they would have the same reaction.

Cat owner, experiment please. Try random objects please.

I'm sure this is it. A cat is obviously extremely aware of it's surrounding, like all catch-and-kill predators. They must let their guard down when they're eating. It's likely just the surprise. Bet it would happen with a crescent wrench or hair brush just the same.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Craig T

I'm sure this is it. A cat is obviously extremely aware of it's surrounding, like all catch-and-kill predators. They must let their guard down when they're eating. It's likely just the surprise. Bet it would happen with a crescent wrench or hair brush just the same.

This reminded me of one of our cats recently...

It's very much the catch-and-kill predator. Indoor/outdoor cat; often brings us trophies. A few months ago, my son got a gecko; bright yellow and white. I warned him not to let it roam freely or it would end up as a side dish for "Scout." Of course, my warnings were not heeded...but apparently neither were they accurate.

Couple days after the gecko came home to us, the cat was sleeping on my other son's bed. Gecko-owning son decides to let the lizard free right by the cat. Climbs on the cat, walks around it a bit; cat never flinches. I admit my surprise and incorrect initial stance. Seems the cat doesn't care about this new addition to the family. Fast forward a couple more days...

Cat is sleeping on the couch, son brings gecko out to living room, letting it climb around on the couch. Cat wakes up, takes notice of the gecko and shoots straight up about 6 feet in the air and takes off running out of the room. That gecko scared the bejeezus out of him for whatever reason. We all got a pretty good laugh out of it.

[widebody911]

Maybe it's because it looks like something that should be in the litterbox?

[john70t]

My dog jumps at his own farts.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by john70t

My dog jumps at his own farts.

That is likely because he gets blamed for every fart in the house, even when he is innocent.

[AFC-911]

People Are Scaring Their Cats with Cucumbers. They Shouldn’t.

[Rinty]

I saw this on Facebook....

Thanks for posting.

But after reading the article AFC linked, it might be better not to pull this trick.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

People Are Scaring Their Cats with Cucumbers. They Shouldn’t.

From the link. John is a Anthrozoologist and studies the the science of human-animal interactions.

John Bradshaw, a cat-behavior expert at the University of Bristol and the author of the book Cat Sense, agrees, saying the “despicable” videos are “an incitement for people to scare their cats and then invite people to laugh at them.”

Goldman explains that the cucumbers are triggering the cats’ natural startle responses, since they “would not normally see cucumbers on the floor.”

It’s also possible they may associate the green invader with snakes, which can be deadly predators, Goldman adds.

“With a startle response, a cat will often try to get out of there as quickly as possible and then reassess from a distance,” says Goldman.

Thanks for the tip, John. I put your picture next to my cats dish and she is now on a hunger strike.



A cat behavior expert...I have reached the end of credulity.

[herr_oberst]

^ FWIW, I've read that book, it's really pretty interesting...

[AFC-911]

I don't know. Cat Expert sounds like a pretty sweet gig.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Goldman explains that the cucumbers are triggering the cats’ natural startle responses, since they “would not normally see cucumbers on the floor.”

Like any other animal in the house is used to cucumbers on the floor.
I think a cat behaviorist is a guy who had to drop out of art history because he couldn't handle the course load.

[gacook]

Sounds to me like a guy who probably followed his passion and made it a career. Good on him.