A disturbing social media trend featuring a “Cat in the Hat” character has now reached schools in California.
The Baldwin Park Police Department said Saturday that it is investigating alarming posts tied to the viral trend. Some of the messages referenced schools and identified students by name.
“We are actively reviewing these posts and will investigate any potential threats or criminal activity. Any threat directed toward our schools, students, staff, or community will not be dismissed as a joke or prank,” Baldwin Park police said.
The trend centers on AI-generated images and videos of a person dressed as the Cat in the Hat, the sharply dressed, top-hatted feline known for causing chaos in Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book.
While the original story’s mayhem is confined to a messy house, the TikTok trend—drawing inspiration from Mike Myers’ 2003 film—takes a darker turn. Videos reportedly depict the character lurking in alleys and making threats against specific schools or communities, according to Fox News.
The disturbing trend has raised concerns about school safety and has led to arrests of students accused of helping spread the prank.
Earlier this week, a person dressed as the Cat in the Hat allegedly chased a teenage girl through a Canadian neighborhood.
The teenager reached home safely after being pursued near the 2000 block of Shamrock Drive in West Kelowna, British Columbia, around 9 p.m. on Aug. 24 by a figure resembling the children’s character, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Tuesday.
The dangerous trend has spread from Georgia to Virginia and resulted in 10 juvenile arrests. Authorities, including the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, have warned residents after posts specifically targeted Mechanicsville High School.
In Kentucky, one video prompted Assumption High School to close in late August. Louisville police later determined the threat was not credible but reaffirmed that school safety concerns would be treated with zero tolerance.
