We often come across videos where cats, upon seeing a cucumber, are startled into flying leaps. Even Tom from “Tom and Jerry” is afraid of cucumbers. The author must have had experience with cats, observing them with great detail. Cats do indeed fear cucumbers, but upon closer examination of the videos, you’ll notice that cats are either eating or sleeping, feeling very safe, when they suddenly see a cucumber and get scared into jumping. The key is the element of surprise.
Those who have raised cats know that they have a very high level of vigilance. When feeding cats, they often carry their food to a safe place to eat. Stray cats often do this: they wait until you put the food down and leave before they come out to eat. My cat, since being rescued from a temple, has never been seen eating, yet the plate is always licked clean by the next day.
So, the sudden appearance of a cucumber in a place where a cat feels very safe will definitely startle them, much like when we’re watching a horror movie and someone suddenly pats us on the back, causing us to lose our wits in an instant. Coupled with the fact that cats’ visual systems differ from humans in their ability to distinguish colors, green is more likely to attract a cat’s attention. Thus, it’s not that cats are actually afraid of cucumbers, but rather they are startled by them. If you don’t believe me, try substituting with other green vegetables like sponge gourd, wax gourd, or lettuce, and the cat will still jump in fright. However, once the cat calms down, it will no longer be afraid of the cucumber and may even take a bite.
Finally, a word of advice to everyone: don’t be too idle and don’t always play pranks to scare your own cat. People can hardly bear being frightened, let alone cats.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/cats-afraid-cucumbers-unveiling-truth-visual-secret
