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Shoulder cats are a phenomenon much celebrated by self-confessed ‘cat people.’ It turns out that some cattos find the left or right, or both, shoulders of their owners the comfiest place to sit and look at the weird human world from above. Although it’s hard to precisely pinpoint when the term first emerged, the shoulder cat trend has recently taken over Reddit and other social media channels.

And while shoulder cat pics are taking over the internet, a big question has come up and it’s whether other animals on the shoulder count too. Because I mean, guys, is it really fair for cats to steal the entire spotlight for themselves? While this question remains purely philosophical, owners of different pets have now joined the ‘shoulder cat and not exclusively cat’ trend, sharing the cutest snaps of their furry friends on their shoulders.

So let’s see what this whole thing is all about and before someone asks, non-animals don’t count, so there’s no point trying to pull off the shoulder teddy bear for the challenge. Or maybe?...

#3

Hopefully Shoulder Kittens Count

Hopefully Shoulder Kittens Count

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To find out just why exactly some cats are really into shoulder perching, Bored Panda reached out to Molly DeVoss, a certified feline training & behavior specialist, who runs Cat Behavior Solutions consulting agency. Molly told us that cats like to be in high places and close to the scent of their owners, so “shoulder perching is a natural behavior that accomplishes both.”

Meanwhile, if it seems that for your cat, shoulder sitting is the last thing they wanna do, it may be because “the cat doesn’t feel safe or stable on their owners' shoulders.”

But the good news is that you can train a cat to do just anything it wants to do, says Molly. “If your cat likes to climb up on you, simply encourage and reinforce that behavior with treats, and the cat will do it more often.” You can also lure your cat up onto your shoulder with treats.

#4

Oh Hi There, I Was Told That Shoulder Cats Are Trending Today

Oh Hi There, I Was Told That Shoulder Cats Are Trending Today

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Usually it’s young kittens that climb on their owners and sit up there, enjoying the sense of security there. As cats grow older, they get less agile and more cumbersome, thus making the internet’s favorite ‘shoulder catting’ trick harder with age.

But perching on the owner's shoulder isn’t a behavior that’s exclusive to cats. Birds and other small pets do it, and they’re usually easily trainable.

#7

I See Your Shoulder Cats. I Raise You Crown Cat

I See Your Shoulder Cats. I Raise You Crown Cat

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#8

My Shoulder Cat Isn't Nearly As Cute As Everyone Else's

My Shoulder Cat Isn't Nearly As Cute As Everyone Else's

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#9

I See Your Shoulder Cats, Is It Too Late For A Shoulder Baby Opossum?

I See Your Shoulder Cats, Is It Too Late For A Shoulder Baby Opossum?

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#10

Do Shoulder Horses Count? She's Always Hanging Her Head Over My Neck Waiting For Scratches

Do Shoulder Horses Count? She's Always Hanging Her Head Over My Neck Waiting For Scratches

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#11

My Shoulder Monster At 10 Months

My Shoulder Monster At 10 Months

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#12

I Don’t Have A Cat, So I Present My Shoulder Bun!

I Don’t Have A Cat, So I Present My Shoulder Bun!

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#13

Hope We Are Not Too Late

Hope We Are Not Too Late

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#14

Shoulder Animals Seem To Be Pretty Popular Nowadays. So Here's A Shoulder Crow!

Shoulder Animals Seem To Be Pretty Popular Nowadays. So Here's A Shoulder Crow!

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#16

She Was Purrty Proud Of My Accomplishment

She Was Purrty Proud Of My Accomplishment

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#17

Heard You Like Shoulder Cats. This Is A.....pygmy Tree Cat

Heard You Like Shoulder Cats. This Is A.....pygmy Tree Cat

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#18

Within 2 Seconds Of Meeting The Cat I Was Adopting, She Climbed Onto My Shoulders

Within 2 Seconds Of Meeting The Cat I Was Adopting, She Climbed Onto My Shoulders

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#20

Do These Count As Shoulder Animals?

Do These Count As Shoulder Animals?

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juliaa1960 avatar
Julia Atkinson
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right Cow looks slightly disgusted by Left Cow's behaviour - "Don't lick it, you don't know where it's been"

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#21

I Have My Shoulder Mounted Barkzooka Locked And Loaded!

I Have My Shoulder Mounted Barkzooka Locked And Loaded!

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truthmonster00 avatar
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me sir, there is a vicious pit bull on your shoulder. Please remove it before it harms you with its cuteness :)

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#22

He Always Climbs For A Hug After His Naps. Closest I Can Get To A Shoulder Cat

He Always Climbs For A Hug After His Naps. Closest I Can Get To A Shoulder Cat

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rachel_0328 avatar
Rachel Krug
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how my kitty is too. He loves to burrow his head in my hair and rub his face on my ear lol

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#23

I See Your Baby Possums, Duck & Cats On Shoulders And Raise You An Albino Ferret

I See Your Baby Possums, Duck & Cats On Shoulders And Raise You An Albino Ferret

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#25

Jumbo Shoulder Dog

Jumbo Shoulder Dog

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#27

Sleeping Shoulder Magpie Baby

Sleeping Shoulder Magpie Baby

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jaekrijnen avatar
Jaekry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sleeping... I guess sounds logical, but never would have thought of it.

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#28

Shoulder Cats? Nah, How About Shoulder Bear?

Shoulder Cats? Nah, How About Shoulder Bear?

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#29

Silence Human, I’m Looking At Shoulder Cats

Silence Human, I’m Looking At Shoulder Cats

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#31

Do Shoulder Raccoons Count? Courtesy Of My Sister

Do Shoulder Raccoons Count? Courtesy Of My Sister

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#32

Shoulder Birb

Shoulder Birb

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#33

Shoulder Nugget (And A Lap Full Of Beans)

Shoulder Nugget (And A Lap Full Of Beans)

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#34

My Dreams Of Having A Shoulder Cat Have Come True

My Dreams Of Having A Shoulder Cat Have Come True

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#36

Does A Rottweiler Puppy Count

Does A Rottweiler Puppy Count

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#40

Am I Too Late? Fern, The Sweetest Opossum!

Am I Too Late? Fern, The Sweetest Opossum!

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kacijoseph avatar
Red
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ngl the girl looks like somebody i would want to be friends with

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#41

He Found My Wife’s Hood. I Think He Likes It

He Found My Wife’s Hood. I Think He Likes It

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#42

Do Shoulder Squirrels Count?

Do Shoulder Squirrels Count?

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jacobbeccagizmothesquirrel avatar
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah! I had tons if pics with gizmo on my shoulders. Don't know where that broke phone is. A squirrel running circles around your body is a weird feeling. I miss that baby.

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#43

The Elusive Shoulder Fox!

The Elusive Shoulder Fox!

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ifiwasuidwannabme2dewitt avatar
Alien
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That fox is screaming- I feel so bad for that poor mans ears, foxes are so loud

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#44

Shoulder Dane Anyone?

Shoulder Dane Anyone?

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#48

I Thought My Little Shoulder Protector Should Get A Turn Too!!

I Thought My Little Shoulder Protector Should Get A Turn Too!!

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#50

My Partner Would Like To Know If We’re Still Doing Shoulder Cats?

My Partner Would Like To Know If We’re Still Doing Shoulder Cats?

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Note: this post originally had 176 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.