The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Why are cats scared of cucumbers?
Placing a cucumber behind a cat causes them to leap into the air in fright

People have been sharing videos of their cats' extreme reactions to cucumbers.
Placing a cucumber behind a cat when it's eating appears to startle them, causing some cats to leap into the air in fright.
The trend has spawned a dedicated subReddit called 'CucumbersScaringCats', where users have posted videos of them testing the trick on their own cats.
Jill Goldman, a certified animal behaviourist, told National Geographic the cucumbers were triggering the cats' natural startle reflexes.
"With a startle response, a cat will often try to get out of there as quickly as possible and then reassess from a distance," she said, explaining their terrified reaction.
Placing cucumbers near where cats eat may confuse the cats further, because they often associate those areas with safety and security, Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of Think Like a Cat, also said.
Ms Goldman said it was also possible cats may associate the cucumber with snakes, which can be deadly predators.
She added: "If you cause stress to an animal that's probably not a good thing."
[This article was originally published in November 2015]
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies