Cops and schools on edge as violent ‘Cat in the Hat’ threats increase, teens arrested

Schools and law enforcement are currently fearful of the Cat in the Hat. As reported by The Guardian, a TikTok and Snapchat trend has spilled over into genuine criminal charges, with teens arrested for making violent threats connected with the character.

As per The Guardian, the trend began in the United Kingdom in mid-August before going viral in the United States and Canada. Typical posts reportedly use either AI-generated or real-life costumes to resemble the character, though with disturbing aesthetics and audio. These have been used to threaten towns, schools, and individuals – with some naming supposed “targets.”

A 15-year-old in Wichita, Kansas has now been arrested for allegedly posting a Cat in the Hat video threatening his fellow students, two students in Worth County, Georgia are facing charges connected to the viral trend, and another in Colorado has been arrested after implying the Cat is going to appear outside a middle school and residential homes to terrorize locals.

“Serious criminal consequences”

It sounds ridiculous, but in Colorado the Grand Junction Police Department emphasized (per The Guardian), “The posts are intended to cause alarm and fear in individuals.” They continued, “GJPD takes reports involving school safety seriously and will continue working closely with our community partners to prioritize the safety and security of our students, staff, and schools. We urge students and community members to make reports to law enforcement or school personnel when they see or hear about something that sounds suspicious.”

Cops in Laredo also warned teenagers (via Newsweek) that threatening posts are “not a joke,” saying: “Any social media post, message, image, or other communication that contains a threat or causes fear or alarm within our schools or community will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. … Before you post, think about the consequences. A few seconds on social media can result in a police investigation, school disciplinary action, and potentially serious criminal consequences.”

However, cops in Louisville, Kentucky appeared to recognize that something is amusing about a Dr Seuss character being at the center of an apparent crimewave and gave their own rhyming warning (via Newsweek): “The Cat in the Hat is all over the net, but here’s what we know from what we’ve seen yet. No credible threat has come to our view, but we’re checking each tip to make sure that stays true. See something concerning? Here’s what you should do: Don’t share it—report it. We’ll take it from you.”