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Many people believe that the color red triggers bulls, so is there something comparable for other animals, such as cats? Before we answer this question, it’s actually not true that red has anything to do with why bulls get angry during bullfights. The movement of the muleta, or bullfighter, and the pain and fear that the bull is feeling in the moment are actually the reasons that they react the way that they do.1
So, does that mean felines also don’t react to certain colors? Not necessarily, but there is no scientific evidence to back up the idea that cats may react negatively to any color.
Can Cats See Color?
Cats are capable of seeing several colors. However, their color vision is not as developed as that of humans. The majority of the color spectrum that cats can see falls within the grey, yellow, and blue range, and these colors are less vibrant than they are in human eyesight.
In fact, cats primarily perceive colors in the blue and green spectrum, and possibly some shades of yellow. Their vision is somewhat similar to red-green color blindness in humans; they likely cannot distinguish reds and oranges. While cats can see black and white contrasts well, especially in low light, it’s important to note that in vision science, black and white are considered extremes of brightness rather than colors. Black represents the absence of light, and white reflects all wavelengths of visible light, but these distinctions relate more to the physics of light than to how cats interpret them visually. What matters is that cats rely heavily on brightness and motion rather than rich color detail to navigate their world.
What About Reports of Cats Hating Certain Colors?
You can find just about any type of story and anecdote on the internet, including stories of people’s cats seemingly reacting to specific colors. You may have brought home a yellow placemat, and your cat viciously attacked it every time they saw it sitting out. That doesn’t necessarily mean your cat hates the color yellow, though. Think of all of the other yellow things your cat encounters in their daily life, from toys and clothing to flowers. Do they react similarly? They likely don’t.
Your cat is likely reacting to something else about the item. This can be its general appearance, a smell that it has, or its similarity to something that your cat has had a negative experience with in the past. Also, keep in mind that since your cat sees colors differently than you do, they may discern patterns in items in a different way than you might.
What About the Cats and Cucumbers Trend?
If you logged online a few years ago, you almost couldn’t avoid seeing videos of people surprising their cats with a cucumber on the ground. Usually, the reaction of the cat was one of aggression, surprise, or fear. This had nothing at all to do with the color of the cucumber, though, and everything to do with the shape and in some cases, the sudden appearance of the fruit.
Cats naturally have a fear of snakes, which is an instinct that developed from tens of thousands of years existing in places where snakes were a present danger. It’s believed that cats show a fear or surprise response in the presence of cucumbers because they associate its general appearance with that of a snake.
Also, you’d probably be startled if a cucumber suddenly appeared on the floor behind you!
Conclusion
There is no evidence to support the idea that cats hate certain colors. In reality, color vision is not a strong point for felines, especially compared to humans, so your cat is likely not able to decipher the vibrancy and tones of certain colors. If your cat seems to react strongly to something, it’s less likely to be related to the color of the item but rather to its overall appearance or your pet’s previous experiences.
Featured Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay
