Being a cat owner is an experience filled with countless unforgettable moments. Some of them find a permanent place in your heart without needing a ticket, while others leave you scratching your head. The case of cats and cucumbers falls into the latter category.

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A few years ago, an internet trend emerged where people scared their cats using cucumbers. The videos were undeniably funny—watching poor cats react as if their entire life flashed before their eyes because of a harmless vegetable. However, it soon became clear that this joke was far from humorous from a cat's perspective. Speculation followed: what could be behind this strange reaction? Many assumed it was because cucumbers resemble snakes, causing the cats to panic. But the truth is far more nuanced.

Cats vs Cucumber: Why the Snake Theory Is Flawed

Dr. Pamela Perry, a behavior specialist at the Feline Health Center of Cornell University, commented on the issue: “The cats in the videos may be reacting to the sudden appearance of a novel object. Cats don’t have a natural fear of snakes. In fact, a lot of them hunt snakes (I had one such cat who insisted on presenting her prey—still very much alive—at my feet!).”

The Effect of the Stress Response

You surely know from your own life that stress affects every aspect of your day-to-day functioning. It can make even simple tasks complicated and, in the long run, can seriously damage both your physical and mental health. Cats experience stress responses to fear just like we do—and it’s just as harmful to them.

Moreover, cats that have been frightened like this may later associate other stimuli with the frightening event, such as the presence of food or the location where it happened. And if that weren’t bad enough, they might even associate their owner with the incident. This could lead to the cat being afraid not only of cucumbers but also of the person it once trusted the most. Is a few seconds of laughter really worth that?

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Not all cats will respond the same way to the presence of a cucumber, but we recommend avoiding this kind of prank altogether. Why not play with your cat instead?

Something You Probably Didn’t Think About

This situation also raises an ethical question. As pet owners, we are responsible for the animals in our care. That includes protecting and safeguarding them to the best of our ability.

As humans, we often fall into the trap of doing something simply because we feel superior and believe we can. Scaring an unsuspecting animal—especially when you can’t explain that it was “just a joke” and there’s nothing to fear—is not fair behavior. Later, these same pet owners wonder why their cat bites, hides, or pees on the bed. Behavioral issues caused by traumatic experiences affect not only the cat’s life but also the owner’s.