Pickle Me This

Pickles, Cats, and Startle Reflexes: A Scientific Look (with a Side of Pickle Fest Fun)

This weekend, Loveland, Colorado is getting delightfully briny with Pickle Fest — a celebration of all things pickled! If you're looking for something fun (and slightly tangy) to do, head over to Loveland Aleworks on Saturday, April 26, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Expect pickle-flavored treats, live music, competitive pickle games, and a variety of local vendors offering pickle-themed merchandise and, of course, pickles. (You can find all the details here.) It’s the kind of community event we at Inkwell Veterinary Emergency Clinic love to see: quirky, local, and full of personality.

Now, look — I respect a good pickle. I'm always happy to see one show up on the side of a sandwich. It’s a promising sign. But I'm not the type of person who lounges in bed with a jar of pickle chips or lovingly tends to homemade spears brining in the pantry. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever even bought a jar of pickles on purpose. Any pickles in my fridge are there by accident or upon the direction of someone else. 

As much as I wish I were, I'm simply not a "pickle guy." Man, do I wish I was. I gaze longingly at those who can crunch down on some cukes and have it infuse them with delight. But that's not me. That said, show me a pickle and I don’t jump five feet into the air, yowling and sprinting for safety like a cat spotting a cucumber.

Which brings me to today's burning question.

As I wander through the Pickle Fest aisles, surrounded by more brined objects than nature could have intended, I can't help but wonder: why do cats freak out when you show them a cucumber?

If you’ve ever seen one of those viral videos, you know the drill: a person quietly places a cucumber behind a cat, and when the cat turns around, it launches itself into the stratosphere. It’s funny in a slapstick way — but it’s also based on some very real, very interesting animal behavior science.

The Startle Reflex: Cats Are Hardwired to React

At the heart of the "cucumber freakout" is the startle reflex, an ancient survival mechanism found in mammals (humans included). When something unexpected appears behind them — especially while they're eating or chilling — the cat's brainstem basically yells, "ABORT!" and launches the body into action. This all runs through the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (PnC), a part of the brain designed to handle sensory emergencies at lightning speed.

Research into feline startle responses (Hague et al., 2015) shows that the environment matters too. Cats who live in enriched, low-stress environments are generally less jumpy than cats living under more stressful conditions. So if your cat is startled enough by a cucumber to attempt orbital flight, it's not just the cucumber's fault — it's a perfect storm of surprise, instinct, and context.

Why Cucumbers Specifically? Snake Aversion May Be the Culprit

Sure, anything that appears suddenly could startle a cat. But why do cucumbers in particular seem to cause such dramatic reactions?

The leading theory is evolutionary snake fear. From a cat’s point of view, a long, green, slightly curved object slithering into view could easily be mistaken for a snake — and for small mammals (and the cats who hunt them), snakes have never exactly encouraged a "let’s hug it out" type of encounter. 

Studies on cats' reactions to snake scent gland secretions (Stowers & Liberles, 2009) show that even without seeing a snake, cats recognize snake-related threats and react strongly to them. So while the cucumber isn’t moving or hissing, it visually hits the "this-could-kill-you" part of the cat brain — and suddenly, your kitchen floor turns into an emergency evacuation zone.

Context Matters: Safe Spaces Should Stay Safe

Here’s the kicker: most of these cucumber pranks happen in a cat’s "safe zone" — like next to their food bowl. That’s a place where they expect calm, predictable vibes, not sneak attacks. Violating that trust can cause lasting stress.

In fact, the same 2015 study (Hague et al.) found that stability and enrichment reduce the startle response over time. Translation? Startling your cat for laughs could make them anxious even in spaces they used to feel secure. Not exactly the punchline you were hoping for.

In short: while the internet loves a good cat jump-scare video, startling your cat for entertainment is a bad idea. Let’s leave the shocking cucumber reveals to moments like "what did you bring to dip in this hummus?" or "what did you put in my trombone?!" 

Celebrate Pickles Responsibly

As you enjoy Pickle Fest this weekend (and you definitely should), take a moment to appreciate how even the most ridiculous everyday objects — like a pickle, or a cucumber — can tap into some incredible, ancient animal instincts.

While you do, I'll just be over here trying to brine a baguette. 

References:

• Hague, D. W., Stella, J. L., & Buffington, C. A. T. (2015). Effects of interstitial cystitis on the acoustic startle reflex in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 74(1), 144–147.

• Stowers, L., & Liberles, S. D. (2009). Responses by domestic cats (Felis catus) to snake scent gland secretions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 63(4), 519–526.

• Koch, M. (1999). The neurobiology of startle. Progress in Neurobiology, 59(2), 107–128.