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?...
This post may include affiliate links.
Does Shoulder Duck Make The Cut?
Hopefully Shoulder Kittens Count
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.
Oh Hi There, I Was Told That Shoulder Cats Are Trending Today
Behold The Glorious Whiskers Of Shoulder Cat
What About A Mouse?
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.
I See Your Shoulder Cats. I Raise You Crown Cat
My Shoulder Cat Isn't Nearly As Cute As Everyone Else's
I See Your Shoulder Cats, Is It Too Late For A Shoulder Baby Opossum?
Do Shoulder Horses Count? She's Always Hanging Her Head Over My Neck Waiting For Scratches
My Shoulder Monster At 10 Months
I Don’t Have A Cat, So I Present My Shoulder Bun!
Hope We Are Not Too Late
Shoulder Animals Seem To Be Pretty Popular Nowadays. So Here's A Shoulder Crow!
I Give You, Azu, The Shoulder Snek
She Was Purrty Proud Of My Accomplishment
Heard You Like Shoulder Cats. This Is A.....pygmy Tree Cat
Within 2 Seconds Of Meeting The Cat I Was Adopting, She Climbed Onto My Shoulders
Does Shoulder Chicken Make The Cut?
Do These Count As Shoulder Animals?
Right Cow looks slightly disgusted by Left Cow's behaviour - "Don't lick it, you don't know where it's been"
I Have My Shoulder Mounted Barkzooka Locked And Loaded!
Excuse me sir, there is a vicious pit bull on your shoulder. Please remove it before it harms you with its cuteness :)
He Always Climbs For A Hug After His Naps. Closest I Can Get To A Shoulder Cat
That's how my kitty is too. He loves to burrow his head in my hair and rub his face on my ear lol
I See Your Baby Possums, Duck & Cats On Shoulders And Raise You An Albino Ferret
Shoulder Cat Will Be Fun, They Said
Jumbo Shoulder Dog
I See Your Shoulder Cat And Raise You A Beard Kitten
Sleeping Shoulder Magpie Baby
Shoulder Cats? Nah, How About Shoulder Bear?
Silence Human, I’m Looking At Shoulder Cats
How About Shoulder Sugar Gliders?
Do Shoulder Raccoons Count? Courtesy Of My Sister
Shoulder Birb
Shoulder Nugget (And A Lap Full Of Beans)
My Dreams Of Having A Shoulder Cat Have Come True
Hope I’m Not Late For The Cat On Shoulder
Does A Rottweiler Puppy Count
I Give You Shoulder Bun
Hope I'm Not Too Late To Raise You A Second Shoulder Cat
We Raised A Shoulder Cat
Am I Too Late? Fern, The Sweetest Opossum!
He Found My Wife’s Hood. I Think He Likes It
Do Shoulder Squirrels Count?
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.
The Elusive Shoulder Fox!
Shoulder Dane Anyone?
IKR I want a great dane so bad. Such gentle giants.
Load More Replies...
That looks like the most friendly pupper in the world, I want to kiss that little face to pieces!
my dane looks just like this floofer. she will come to you and put her head on your shoulder sometimes. she's done it to me once or twice... it's a good feeling when she does it
Do Chinchillas Count Too?
Shoulder Cat Or Cyclops?
I Thought My Little Shoulder Protector Should Get A Turn Too!!
I See We Are Doing Shoulder Cats Today?
My Partner Would Like To Know If We’re Still Doing Shoulder Cats?
Ashby Got Me Through Back Surgery
A Teeny Weeny Shoulder Kitten (Another Reason To Love My Job)
Does A Shoulder Hedgehog Count?
Big Dogs Can Be Shoulder Dogs Too. Meet Ruka
You've Heard Of Shoulder Cat, Now Get Ready For Shoulder Fennec Fox!
I See Your One Shoulder Cat And Raise
Head And Shoulder Cat
We Hope Is Not To Late
What About A Shoulder Mule ?
Shoulder Pig Anyone? (This Is What He Does When I Won't Let Him In My Lap)
I Take Your Shoulder Cats And Raise You A Shoulder Bunny
My Brother's Shoulder Was The Safest Place At The Vet
My Shoulder Cat Is Broken And Says Woof
Soldier Cats
I See Your Shoulder Cat And Raise You A Shoulder Chick. Sound On To Hear Her Happy Cooing
I See Your Shoulder Baby Opossum And I Raise You To A Shoulder Bearded Dragon!
I Don't Have A Cat But This Might Work. Shoulder... Snek
I Submit A Shoulder Cow For Your Approval
I Hereby Raise You, The Shoulder Rescue Marmoset
Super Shoulder Kitty
Ok But What About A Shoulder Hamster
My Shoulder Cat, Lily, Is Using My Shoulders As If I'm Getting Paid To Be A 24/7 Cat Hanger
Here’s My Toothless One-Eyed Shoulder Cat
Smiling Shoulder Cat?
Shoulder Coatimundi?
It’s Not Too Late To Join In All The Fun Is It? I Present To You All, A Shoulder Corgi Pup!
Heard You Guys Liked Cute Animals On Shoulders, Here's Me Riding My Bike In Serbia With My Cat On My Shoulders
Shoulder Guinea Pig Providing Great Advice
Shoulder Cat With A Twist, Theo Is Also A Part Time Hairdresser
Update this! I am in love with the pooferfluffynooter's mad hair skillz!
My Roommates Cat Fell Asleep On Her Shoulder
Too Fat To Shoulder Cat
How About A Shoulder Baby Bunny?
They're Good Scarfs Bront
Does My Weird Fuzzy Snake Make The Cut?
Are We Too Late To Join The Party?
Training My New Kitty To Be A Shoulder Cat! 5 Months Old
Kinda Late To The Party, But Shoulder Cat In Elevator
I See Your Shoulder Cat.....
What About A Maine Coon Hat?
Is This Still A Thing? I Hope Im Not Late. Meet Milo And Peanut, My 2 Little Oinkies
I See Your Shoulder Cat And Raise You A Shoulder Rooster
Seeing All The Shoulder Pets, Thought I'd Add My Shoulder Dog
Shoulder Dog That Acts Like A Cat, So It Counts
The Best Thing About Fostering Is Getting To Experience Cats With Wildly Different Personalities Like Our New Shoulder Cat Cleo!
I Was Told This Community Would Like To See This Pic But Now I See Why!! Everyone's Posting Their Adorable Shoulder Cats!! Hope I'm Not Too Late To The Party
Dual Wielding
Since We're Shouldering Animals, Say Hi To Dawn!
I Said Shoulder, But She Wouldn't Listen
I, Too, Would Like To Share A Possum-On-My-Shoulder Pic
This Shoulder Cat Is Giving And Receiving Special Boops
After 4 Years Mary Finally Decided It Was Time To Become A Shoulder Kitty
This gives me hope for my two 1 year old kitties who haven't quite taken to the shoulder scene yet 😋 good cause I am getting wildly jealous of all these posts
Since We’re Doing Shoulder Cats, I Raise You My Double Shoulder Kittens
I Heard Y'all Like Cats On Shoulders...
I See Your Shoulder Cats, Your Turkeys, Your Gerbils... I Raise You A Dragon
Found This One Lost In A Market, He Likes To Eat, Pee And Sit At My Shoulder, All At The Same Time
I Heard Shoulder Kittens Are Super In Right Now
Super hot guys are also super "in" right now ... never mind the kitten.
I’ve Heard We Do Shoulder Cats... Meet Crosseyed Shoulder Cat And My Dad
Shoulder Cat In One Of Cairo's Busses
Meet Thunder, The Cat I Took From The Streets A Few Days Ago. He Wouldn't Even Let Me Touch Him Back Then, But Today His Favourite Place To Chill Is My Shoulder
Is It Okay If One Rides On My Shoulder While The Other Rides On My Head?
Shoulder Tiny Trash Panda
For Your Shoulder Cat Consideration, This Is Old Man Wilson
Scary Shoulder Cat Lmao
They May Not Be Cats, But They’re Still Good Shoulder Boys! Happy International Bird Day!
Raise birds for many years (including cockatoos and macaws (had big Greenwing as pet). At first was a little apprehensive with a Macaw that close to my eyes. As we bonded more strongly she decided she liked to preen eyebrows. The incredible delicacy and care a bird can show is amazing.!
I See Your Shoulder Cats And Raise You A Shoulder Gerbil
Double Trouble- A Shoulder Cat & A Lap Cat!
How About A Shoulder Dog Scared Of A Little Thunder?
When He Was Small Enough To Be My Shoulder Buddy
This Lady In My Neighborhood That Walks Around With Her Cat On Her Shoulder
Double Trouble
Hear Me Out ... Shoulder Cat And Matching Shirts ?
I Have An Aggressively Affectionate Cat
I Don't Have A Shoulder Cat, However, Here Is A Shoulder Horse
I See Your Shoulder Cat Photos. Do A Couple Of Shoulder Ferrets Count?
Shoulder Caaaat
My Shoulder Cat
Parents New Cat Likes To Climb On My Shoulders And Play With My Ears
My New Kitty Max! The Cat Carrier Is Still A Little Scary For Him. So He Climbed Up My Shoulder And Spent The Ride Home Sleeping There
A Dark-Haired Man Wearing A Plaid Shirt Stares Directly Into The Camera With A Kitty Cat On His Left Shoulder
I Work On A Farm. Meet My Work Shoulder Cat, James
I Too Have A Shoulder Kitten. We're Not Very Good At Selfies Yet
I Call Your Shoulder Cat And Raise You Two Shoulder Tiggers
The most wonderful thing about tiggers, is that tiggers are wonderful things! *loud off-key singing*
How About A Shoulder Doodle?
Does Shoulder Guinea-Fowl Count?
My Blind 16 Yr Old Cat Has A Very Special Relationship With My Boyfriend And Managed To Climb On His Shoulders Where She Needed A Helping Hand To Get Down
Everyone Should Have A Shoulder Cat.
Here’s My Shoulder Cat. I Hope I’m Not Too Late
Scarf Cat Is Having A Great Time, I Swear
My Parents New Puppy Enjoys Sleeping Like This, Especially While Driving
Shoulder Cat! (Sorry About The Human)
My Shoulder Cat Gringo, He Lives At The Vet Clinic Where I Work (Vet) And Helps Keep Our Spirits Up!
I Offer You A Shoulder Guinea Pig In This Trying Time
My Cat's Kitten Climbed Up My Shoulder, Buried Her Head Into My Hair And Fell Asleep. My Shoulders Are Stiff But It's A Small Price To Pay
We Still Doing Shoulder Animals? When He Was Small He Would Sit Like This In The Car
I See Your Shoulder Cats, And Raise You Two
Does A Leopard Gecko On My Shoulder Count?
The Citty I Found In Street And Me
My Shoulder Cat Puts His Butt On My Head
Alaska Here Loves To Hang Out On Your Shoulder
I See Your Shoulder Animals, And I Raise You With This Sweet Baby Opossum
I Heard We Were Posting Our Animals That Love Shoulders
My Half-Blind Shoulder Son
Are We Still Doing Shoulder Animals?
I See Your Shoulder Cat Pic And Double It
This Is My Rescue, Charlie, And She Loves Trips On My Shoulder... Mr. Mom To A Cat That Thinks It’s A Parrot
Are We Too Late For A 60lb Shoulder Dog?
Too Lazy To Be A Shoulder Cat
One Heavy Pit Unsure Of Why She's On My Shoulder, Checking In
Whenever She Rides With Me. She Will Break Out Of Her Cat Cage And Sit On My Shoulders
My First Time Today Experiencing A Shoulder Cat. I’ve Peaked In Life
What Do Y’all Think About Dogs Who Think They’re Cats?
Me With My Perfectly Normal Shoulder Cat
I Heard We Were Posting Shoulder Cats (My Fiancé And Our Baby Tormund)
This Is "Nermal" The Foster Cat That Adopted Me And Rides On My Shoulder
Meet Blue, The Shoulder Cat. He Had To Have All His Teeth Removed Except For His Canines. He's Pretty Swell
I Heard Something About “Shoulder Cats”?
My Vet Has A Shoulder Cat And I Love It. Meet Tonks
How About A Shoulder Chicken? She Just Flew Right Up There And Scared The Heck Out Of Me!
I See Your Shoulder Cats And Raise You A Shoulder Bunny. Crash Landed There And Knocked My Glasses Off After Scrambling With His Gremlin Claws Up My Back
Peggy Sue Said She’s Sorry She’s Late To The Party
Either pets make all guys cuter, or covid distancing has gone on way too long.
It's the former. Research shows that a good pet owner is attractive because to another person, a good pet owner = a great parent.
Load More Replies...
What! All those kitties and not one rat? Rats LOVE shoulder sitting - I can fit three of mine on at once! :D Rat-Shot-5...0e5e54.jpg 
What I really enjoy - apart from the great animals - are the many different, often goofy faces. There are way too many smooth instragmm-faces on the web.
Funnily enough, started reading this & 4 pics in my cat is on my shoulders
I have one shoulder cat and one "I will sit on your lap every chance I can get, but pick me up and we're through" cat.
JamUl Gorilla took one look and that was it. Hit the road on our Giant Anthem 29er. Jamul-appa...795c67.jpg 
My father's shoulder cat would take the ouchy route to get there, via climbing up my standing dad's back, claws into clothing (and deeper). He did not mind.
I know an early example of this before the trend started: the cat that climbed on that reporter's shoulder when she was live.
That was always one of my favorite news clips. That cat was adorable.
Load More Replies... Either pets make all guys cuter, or covid distancing has gone on way too long.
It's the former. Research shows that a good pet owner is attractive because to another person, a good pet owner = a great parent.
Load More Replies... What! All those kitties and not one rat? Rats LOVE shoulder sitting - I can fit three of mine on at once! :D Rat-Shot-5...0e5e54.jpg
What I really enjoy - apart from the great animals - are the many different, often goofy faces. There are way too many smooth instragmm-faces on the web.
Funnily enough, started reading this & 4 pics in my cat is on my shoulders
I have one shoulder cat and one "I will sit on your lap every chance I can get, but pick me up and we're through" cat.
JamUl Gorilla took one look and that was it. Hit the road on our Giant Anthem 29er. Jamul-appa...795c67.jpg
My father's shoulder cat would take the ouchy route to get there, via climbing up my standing dad's back, claws into clothing (and deeper). He did not mind.
I know an early example of this before the trend started: the cat that climbed on that reporter's shoulder when she was live.
That was always one of my favorite news clips. That cat was adorable.
Load More Replies...