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.”