I recall hearing the response is, or is comparable to, a seizure and shouldn't be done just because it's funny. Though I am not a vet, and can't confirm or deny that.
While I never did anything like that, I'll add its jerk behavior for my cat to wake me up at 5 when they know damn well I'm going to wake up at 6 to feed them. And its not like they are starving, dry food is always available in their dish, they just demand wet food.
I did the same from the beginning, and he doesn't annoy me when I'm sleeping. However, he understands that I need to go into the kitchen to prepare his food in the evening. So now, every time I enter the kitchen he demands food. Trying to teach him that meowing in the kitchen only gets him pets and maybe water splashes if I'm doing the dishes.
@Vinny_93 I have to admit ehen I was young and stupid I tried the cucumber thing on numerous cats and none of them was even interested once they noticed it let alone jumped.
NZ cats dgaf about cucumbers. I think it's because there are no snakes here or something.
I feel like this is the standard answer for everything that makes cats react. That being said, prank them gently and in moderation as you would a friend or yourself.