Police in Canada are investigating after a person dressed in a Cat in the Hat-style costume allegedly chased a teenage girl through a neighborhood, amid a disturbing online trend that has recast the familiar Dr. Seuss character in sinister social media posts. The trend has also led to investigations and school alerts involving students in several U.S. states.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Aug. 24 in West Kelowna, British Columbia, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorities said the unidentified teen was walking when someone wearing a costume resembling the iconic children’s book character allegedly began running after her.
The girl was able to get away and make it home safely. Investigators are continuing their efforts to identify the person behind the costume.
A blurry image taken at night shows an unidentified individual in a Cat in the Hat-like costume as police examine the unsettling incident. (West Kelowna RCMP)
“Regardless of whether the individual intended the behavior as a joke, following a young person and causing them to fear for their safety is extremely concerning,” Cpl. Devon Gerrits said.
“People should understand that behavior intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety.”
A cellphone screen shows a viral social media clip of a costumed Cat in the Hat figure outside a Publix store at night. (Citrus County Sheriff’s Office)
RCMP officials stressed that simply wearing a costume is not illegal. However, chasing or following someone in a manner that makes them reasonably fear for their safety may amount to criminal harassment. Depending on the circumstances and available evidence, authorities said possible allegations could also include assault, threats or intimidation.
Anyone who thinks they are being followed or chased should head to a busy public area, seek help from a trusted adult and call 911 if they face immediate danger, West Kelowna RCMP said.
Police are seeking doorbell-camera, security-camera or dashcam footage recorded near the 2000 block of Shamrock Drive at roughly 9 p.m. on Aug. 24. Anyone with information is asked to contact West Kelowna RCMP.
Police have not said whether the real-world chase is connected to a separate “Cat in the Hat” social media trend that has spread across the United States, putting schools on alert and landing some juveniles in custody.
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)
The online trend features edited or AI-generated images and videos depicting a sinister version of the Cat in the Hat lurking outside homes, standing near schools or prowling through communities. Some anonymous accounts have added the names of students, staff members, campuses and towns, sometimes accompanied by ominous messages or threats.
Authorities from California to Florida, Virginia and Texas have responded with investigations and increased patrols as they work to separate internet hoaxes from credible dangers.
The Baldwin Park Police Department in California said it was reviewing “concerning social media posts” that referenced local schools and named students and staff members.
“Any threat directed toward our schools, students, staff, or community will not be dismissed as a joke or prank,” the department warned.
Social media posts show a person in a Cat in the Hat costume referencing George West, Texas. (Citrus County Sheriff’s Office)
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Police urged residents not to interact with or recirculate the accounts. Anyone who encounters a threatening post is asked to preserve the content, account name, screenshots, dates and times before reporting it to investigators.
In Virginia, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after an account posted content referencing Mechanicsville High School and the trend. Deputies increased their presence at the campus while attempting to identify the person behind the account.
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)
The sheriff’s office similarly urged residents not to repost the material, warning that doing so could amplify the message and complicate efforts to trace its origin.
Florida’s St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating content involving county schools but had not identified a credible threat. Deputies nevertheless increased their presence on campuses across the county as a precaution.
Texas law enforcement agencies have also warned that creating or spreading the threatening posts could carry consequences far beyond school discipline.
The Frio County Sheriff’s Office said some anonymous accounts have attached lists of students, schools or communities to menacing images and videos in an apparent attempt to provoke fear.
Authorities there determined posts mentioning the area did not appear to present a credible threat but increased patrols and law enforcement visibility around schools.
“Participating in, re-creating, or spreading these threatening posts is not a harmless joke,” the sheriff’s office said, warning that copycat accounts and forwarded threats could lead to charges involving cyberbullying, harassment or terroristic threats.
Laredo police delivered a similar warning, saying criminal charges and arrests may follow even when the person responsible claims the post was only meant as a prank.
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)
“A few seconds on social media can result in a police investigation, school disciplinary action, and potentially serious criminal consequences,” the department said.
Premont police met with school district leaders after learning of the trend and warned that fake accounts, AI-generated content and purported pranks involving threats could result in charges including making a terroristic threat or filing a false alarm or report under Texas law.
The warnings come as authorities in multiple states have traced threatening accounts to juveniles.
Four girls between 13 and 15 years old were arrested in Berwick, Louisiana, after police linked them to TikTok accounts that alarmed families and schools, according to Police1. Three were charged with terrorizing or menacing, while a fourth was charged with cyberbullying.
A 12-year-old Florida student was accused of posting a written threat to kill tied to the trend, while a 14-year-old Colorado student was arrested after a post referenced a middle school and several homes, the outlet reported. Authorities in Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky have also announced juvenile arrests or pending charges connected to similar posts.
Police across the affected communities have repeatedly asked parents and students not to share the content, even when attempting to warn others. Instead, users should capture screenshots showing the account name and threatening material and send the evidence directly to school officials or law enforcement.
News Media reached out to TikTok for comment.