Everybody knows a cat’s place is where humans are–so we believe. But I have seen them off the beaten path–accompanying their people in line at a bus station; around the neck of a fan at Dodger Stadium; terrified in the outfield at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto; and creating what we now call a “photo bomb” by appearing in a newspaper photo of a local landmark.
Has anyone else seen cats where they really don’t belong?
On top of the fridge?
Inside the fridge?
Yeah. Dumb cat. Thankfully he meowed before we closed the door. But he was most definitely on the bottom shelf looking for something to eat while we were rummaging around on the upper shelves.
In my shower, with the shower on. It was their choice.
I think there’s a difference of opinion about where humans think cats belong and where cats think cats belong.
Human: Kitty bed. Lap. In the yard chasing mice and birds. Asleep on the bed with prior human permission provided no Crazy Cat at 3am.
Cat: Anywhere I fit. What?
That being said I think my cat has been just about everywhere in my house except inside the major appliances. She’s been on/under every piece of furniture in every room, explored my workshop, managed to open a heavy sliding door and climb a ladder in a closet to sleep on a top shelf, etc. She’s been in the tub, the shower, the sinks, the counters. If a dresser drawer is open an inch she cannot rest until she’s pulled it open, climbed in and checked out the contents. Preferably making a little nest in the socks so she can curl up and take a nap.
This is an indoor cat. Outdoor cats, all bets are off. I remember as a kid finding our neighbor’s cat inside our car - all the doors and windows were closed, I guess she just dematerialized and came in through the vents or something.
Inside the clothes dryer…yikes! The clothes were dry, but I was getting ready to turn it on to fluff them up when I noticed an odd lump.
on top of auto engines.
on top of poles.
Why did you teach them how to work the facet handles then?
Because it was a jewel of an idea? 
In the toilet.
Numerous cats at Disneyland, but it’s rare to see them. One who looked a lot like a Norwegian Forest cat was being petted by a couple of "Rangers’ at the redwood creek. Most are very feral, but a few will allow themselves to be petted.
They keep the rodents down. Walt cared about them.
On top of a man’s head in New York City.
I’m picturing a kid on their first trip to Disneyland greeted by the sight of a cat dismembering Mickey.
Well, they’re welcome anywhere, DrDeth, if they do that.
My mom once lost a cat that way, when she didn’t notice it in time. Ironically, the cat’s name was “Fluffy.”
My BIL used to be a cross country truck driver. He used to have a cat as a ridding companion.
Since the OP is asking for personal anecdotes, this is best suited to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
Inside a fireplace, while logs were burning. He saw a spider in there, and managed to catch the spider without getting burned.
Jumping at a Christmas tree to get at a particular ornament, a tiny teddy bear. Then carrying it around the house, as if it were her kitten.
Stuck, head down, ass up, behind the washing machine-twice. Dumb cat was determined to explore back there even if she didn’t fit and couldn’t get out. I finally installed a shelf a 1/2" above the back of the washer and dryer to deny her access to that area. Turned out that shelf was really handy for storing laundry supplies.
We had just moved here and set up our washer and drier in the small laundry room. Then we went out for dinner. Came home through the laundry room to the living room. Then we heard our kitty cry. So we went hunting for her, calling her as we went to keep her crying. We got to the laundry room and she cried again, looked behind the washer and there she was standing on her hind legs unable to move. Moved the washer out rescued the cat, and as soon as possible we put a shelf just above the top of the washer and drier so it could never happen again. She was the snoopiest cat we ever had. She’s been gone several years now but we still have her claw marks low down on any door we closed her out of.