Are Cats Really Afraid Of Cucumbers?
Truth is, cats are not afraid of cucumbers. They're afraid when their humans wait until they're in a vulnerable position of eating, then place something behind them which triggers the primal fear of being eaten by something larger. You’d be startled if you turned around and suddenly there was traffic barrel or palm tree right behind you that wasn’t there 2 seconds earlier.
Cats are territorial, they know everything about their territory. If you move a familiar object in your house without their knowledge, they will stop and examine it with care.
The two most vulnerable activities for cats in the wild are eating and defecating. They are most fearful during these activities. In colonies of ferals, alpha males will stand guard while the other cats eat, especially his females. It’s not uncommon for one cat to stand guard while another cat is going potty. This is the reason your cat likes it when you sit with him as he eats or are at least nearby. This is also the reason cats love to come visit you when you are on the toilet. The cat is saying I’m here and I’ll watch out for you.
The cats that you see in various videos were startled because their owners placed a foreign object behind them while they were eating and thought they were safe. It has nothing to do with cucumbers. It’s a shame that people find humor in mistreating animals.
If you have a cat at home, please do not pull this prank on them. They do not have the cognitive skills to understand the concept of juvenile pranks. It might be funny to you, but the result will be that your cat will have considerable constant stress because the home in which she thought was safe has suddenly become unsafe.