Shan Shen Bu cat meme: 5 ways to make your own pet do the flash step
If your feed has a cat that stands up on two legs, freezes, lunges sideways and snaps back, then crouches into a back kick and stares at the camera, you have met the Shan Shen Bu cat meme. This post covers where it comes from and the ways I know to get your own cat or dog into it. I built one of the tools below (Shan Shen Bu Cat & Dog AI), so read my entry with that in mind. Where the meme comes…
The Shan Shen Bu cat meme, also known as the flash step, originated from a 1990s folk dance tutorial filmed at the Beijing Dance Academy. The dance involves a stiff standing pose, a sudden lunge to the side, a snap-back movement, and a back kick, all while the dancer faces the camera. This short dance sequence went viral again in 2026, with people creating AI-generated versions featuring various animals.
There are five ways to create your own pet's version of the meme:
1. Film your pet attempting the dance. This method is free and often produces the funniest results. However, expect many treats and failed takes, as cats and dogs rarely perform the exact movements on cue.
2. Use the CapCut Shanshenbu Cat Meme template, which is free and allows you to replace the white cat with your own pet. The AI maintains the same moves over a different background each time, such as a tea field or a forest.
3. Utilize the MemeCut Shanshen Cat template, which functions similarly to the CapCut one. It provides a ready-made cat over a new backdrop, perfect for quickly posting the meme without needing your actual pet.
4. Use a general AI video app that allows for free trial credits. Upload a photo of your pet and write a prompt describing the flash step dance. Retry a few times with the correct wording, as the output may not perfectly capture the meme. This method may not yield the desired results and the free credits usually run out after a few attempts.
5. Use Shan Shen Bu Cat & Dog AI, a tool specifically designed for creating pet versions of the meme. Upload a single, clear whole-body photo of your pet, ensuring no people are present. The AI will stand your pet up, perform the stiff stand, sideways lunge, snap-back, back kick, and stare, as seen in the original meme. You can choose the desired length (5, 10, or 15 seconds), aspect ratio (vertical or wide), and resolution (480p or 720p).
The output is an MP4 file without a watermark, typically ready in minutes. This option requires a cost for each video produced, starting at $4.99 for a 5-second 480p video and $5.99 for a 10-second 720p video. There is no sign-up required for a single video. The sound is a drum and gong beat produced by the AI, which you can replace with your own audio when posting on TikTok.
Keep in mind that this AI tool will not animate people, children, or public figures. For more information, visit Shan Shen Bu Cat & Dog AI.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
