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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?...
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#2
Does Shoulder Duck Make The Cut?
#3
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.
#4
Oh Hi There, I Was Told That Shoulder Cats Are Trending Today
#5
Behold The Glorious Whiskers Of Shoulder Cat
#6
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.
#7
I See Your Shoulder Cats. I Raise You Crown Cat
#8
My Shoulder Cat Isn't Nearly As Cute As Everyone Else's
#9
I See Your Shoulder Cats, Is It Too Late For A Shoulder Baby Opossum?
#10
Do Shoulder Horses Count? She's Always Hanging Her Head Over My Neck Waiting For Scratches
#11
My Shoulder Monster At 10 Months
#12
I Don’t Have A Cat, So I Present My Shoulder Bun!
#13
Hope We Are Not Too Late
#14
Shoulder Animals Seem To Be Pretty Popular Nowadays. So Here's A Shoulder Crow!
#15
I Give You, Azu, The Shoulder Snek
#16
She Was Purrty Proud Of My Accomplishment
#17
Heard You Like Shoulder Cats. This Is A.....pygmy Tree Cat
#18
Within 2 Seconds Of Meeting The Cat I Was Adopting, She Climbed Onto My Shoulders
#19
Does Shoulder Chicken Make The Cut?
#20
Do These Count As Shoulder Animals?
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago (edited)
Right Cow looks slightly disgusted by Left Cow's behaviour - "Don't lick it, you don't know where it's been"
#21
I Have My Shoulder Mounted Barkzooka Locked And Loaded!
Truth Monster 3 years ago
Excuse me sir, there is a vicious pit bull on your shoulder. Please remove it before it harms you with its cuteness :)
#22
He Always Climbs For A Hug After His Naps. Closest I Can Get To A Shoulder Cat
Rachel Krug 3 years ago
That's how my kitty is too. He loves to burrow his head in my hair and rub his face on my ear lol
#23
I See Your Baby Possums, Duck & Cats On Shoulders And Raise You An Albino Ferret
#24
Shoulder Cat Will Be Fun, They Said
#25
Jumbo Shoulder Dog
Pan Narrans 3 years ago
Ah, the birth of a new sport! Probably inspired by the Woman Carrying competition in Finland.
Jaybird3939 3 years ago
This should be an Olympic event. "Next on the shoulder floof lifting is..."
Janis Wise 3 years ago
Girl, you got him up there, you definitely earned entry into the line up.
#26
I See Your Shoulder Cat And Raise You A Beard Kitten
#27
Sleeping Shoulder Magpie Baby
#28
Shoulder Cats? Nah, How About Shoulder Bear?
#29
Silence Human, I’m Looking At Shoulder Cats
#30
How About Shoulder Sugar Gliders?
#31
Do Shoulder Raccoons Count? Courtesy Of My Sister
#32
Shoulder Birb
#33
Shoulder Nugget (And A Lap Full Of Beans)
#34
My Dreams Of Having A Shoulder Cat Have Come True
#35
Hope I’m Not Late For The Cat On Shoulder
#36
Does A Rottweiler Puppy Count
#37
I Give You Shoulder Bun
#38
Hope I'm Not Too Late To Raise You A Second Shoulder Cat
#39
We Raised A Shoulder Cat
#40
Am I Too Late? Fern, The Sweetest Opossum!
#41
He Found My Wife’s Hood. I Think He Likes It
#42
Do Shoulder Squirrels Count?
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 3 years ago
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.
#43
The Elusive Shoulder Fox!
#44
Shoulder Dane Anyone?
#45
Do Chinchillas Count Too?
#46
Shoulder Cat Or Cyclops?
Final score:
253points
#48
I Thought My Little Shoulder Protector Should Get A Turn Too!!
#49
I See We Are Doing Shoulder Cats Today?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Helen Haley 3 years ago
Either pets make all guys cuter, or covid distancing has gone on way too long.
Flare 3 years ago
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...
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
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 
Katinka Min 3 years ago
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.
Alexis draskinis 3 years ago
Funnily enough, started reading this & 4 pics in my cat is on my shoulders
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
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.
Byron Black 3 years ago
JamUl Gorilla took one look and that was it. Hit the road on our Giant Anthem 29er. Jamul-appa...795c67.jpg 
s. vitkovitsky 3 years ago
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.
Flare 3 years ago
I know an early example of this before the trend started: the cat that climbed on that reporter's shoulder when she was live.
glowworm2 3 years ago
That was always one of my favorite news clips. That cat was adorable.
Load More Replies... Helen Haley 3 years ago
Either pets make all guys cuter, or covid distancing has gone on way too long.
Flare 3 years ago
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... Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
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
Katinka Min 3 years ago
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.
Alexis draskinis 3 years ago
Funnily enough, started reading this & 4 pics in my cat is on my shoulders
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
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.
Byron Black 3 years ago
JamUl Gorilla took one look and that was it. Hit the road on our Giant Anthem 29er. Jamul-appa...795c67.jpg
s. vitkovitsky 3 years ago
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.
Flare 3 years ago
I know an early example of this before the trend started: the cat that climbed on that reporter's shoulder when she was live.
glowworm2 3 years ago
That was always one of my favorite news clips. That cat was adorable.
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