Creepy 'Cat in the Hat' trend targets schools as costumed figure allegedly chases teen girl
An edited image places a Cat in the Hat figure outside a small-town theater alongside a message suggesting an extended "visit." (Citrus County Sheriff's Office)
An individual dressed as the Cat in the Hat allegedly chased a teen girl through a Canadian neighborhood.
On Aug. 24, a girl was walking in West Kelowna, British Columbia, when a person wearing a costume like the Dr. Seuss' character allegedly started chasing her, Royal Canadian Police said in a press release.
The teenage girl escaped and made it home safely, but authorities are working to identify the person wearing the costume.
A grainy image shows an unidentified person wearing a Cat in the Hat-style costume as police investigate the disturbing trend. (Photo courtesy of West Kelowna RCMP)
Creepy "Cat in the Hat" online trend spurs investigations school warnings
Dig deeper:
The "Cat in the Hat" online trend growing in the United States involves edited or AI-generated images and videos showing a menacing version of the Cat in the Hat sneaking outside homes, standing near schools or roaming through neighborhoods.
A disturbing social media post shows a Cat in the Hat figure beneath a local water tower with the message, "look familiar?" (Citrus County Sheriff's Office)
FOX News reported that anonymous online accounts have added the names of students, staff members, campuses and towns, occasionally featuring sinister threats or messages or threats.
RELATED: What is 'chroming'? The deadly social media trend on TikTok
Authorities from California, Florida, Virginia and Texas have responded with probes and expanded patrols as they work to discern internet fakes from credible dangers.
What they're saying:
Citrus County Sheriff David Vincent in a social media post on the agency’s official Facebook page about the "Cat in the Hat" online trend targeting students, schools and communities.
"I want to take a moment to address a social media trend that has been circulating online and causing concern throughout our community. Over the past several days the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports about posts portraying an AI-generated image of the Dr. Seuss character, the Cat in the Hat," Vincent said. "These images depict threatening messages directed towards students and school campuses.
RELATED: 3 child Benadryl deaths spark renewed fears of dangerous social media trend
A social media post shows a Cat in the Hat figure with an ominous message referencing Northampton and the Rushden and Higham area. (Citrus County Sheriff's Office)
Vincent said they have received calls from community members and that authorities reviewed each report and added that none of the incidents were found to be credible but explained that what his team is seeing are AI-generated images being created as alarming and unfounded threats as part of a broader online trend spreading across multiple states.
In California, the Baldwin Park Police Department announced it was reviewing "concerning social media posts" that referenced local schools and named students and staff members.
FOX News reported that the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia investigated after an account posted content referencing Mechanicsville High School and the Cat in the Hat online trend. Authorities expanded their presence at the school while trying to identify the individual behind the account.
Florida’s St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office told FOX News that their agency was investigating content involving county schools but didn’t believe it was a credible threat.
And in Texas, the Frio County Sheriff’s Office reported that several anonymous accounts attached lists of students, schools or neighborhoods to threatening images and videos to incite fear. Authorities also determined that these posts also weren’t credible.
Arrests made in "Cat in the Hat" social media trend
Big picture view:
Canadian authorities have not said if the incident in British Columbia is linked to a separate "Cat in the Hat" social media trend growing in the United States that resulted in some schools issuing warnings and several juveniles landing themselves in trouble with the law.
According to FOX News, police in multiple states have connected threatening accounts to juveniles.
Louisiana
Four girls between 13 and 15 years old were arrested in Berwick, Louisiana, after authorities connected them to TikTok accounts that troubled families and schools, Police1 reported. Three were charged with terrorizing or menacing, while a fourth was charged with cyberbullying.
Florida
In Florida, a 12-year-old student allegedly posted a written threat to kill connected to the Cat in the Hat trend.
Colorado
Police arrested a 14-year-old student in Colorado after a social media post referenced a middle school and several homes.
Meanwhile, police in Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky also announced juvenile arrests or pending charges connected to similar social media posts.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by FOX News, a Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, and a West Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police press release. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.