‘Cat in the Hat’ Suspect Who Chased B.C. Teen Appears Linked to Disturbing Online Copycat Trend
Shraddha Tripathy
9/11/20262 min read
A disturbing incident in which someone dressed as the Cat in the Hat chased a teenage girl in West Kelowna appears to have taken inspiration from a growing online trend that presents the popular children’s character in a sinister and threatening way.
The West Kelowna incident happened in real life on Aug. 24 and remains under RCMP investigation.
Police say the wider trend is largely driven by social media posts featuring generative AI images or videos of the Cat in the Hat standing outside schools, homes, shopping centres and other public locations.
Some of the posts include threatening messages aimed at specific people or communities.
Social Media Posts Feature Threatening Messages
Videos circulating online have shown the character outside B.C. secondary schools and malls, with some attracting thousands of views.
Other posts have reportedly included the names of individuals and their schools along with phrases such as “see you soon,” “bye bye,” “watch out” and “you’re next.”
The content has prompted warnings from police and school officials that seemingly fictional posts can create genuine fear and potentially lead to criminal investigations.
The Nechako Lakes school district in B.C.’s central Interior said this week that it was aware of the trend and encouraged people who encounter threatening posts to report them to police.
B.C. RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said police were aware of the phenomenon, including an incident in Fort St. James and the West Kelowna case.
Clark said he was not aware of additional incidents within B.C. RCMP jurisdictions.
Police Say Criminal Charges Are Possible
Clark said whether a particular post or prank amounts to a criminal offence would depend on the specific evidence and circumstances.
Potential offences could include uttering threats or criminal harassment, he said, although other charges could also be considered.
West Kelowna RCMP previously described the Aug. 24 incident as a “concerning prank” and said criminal harassment was among the possible offences being investigated.
Police said charges such as assault, uttering threats or intimidation could also be considered depending on the evidence.
“Regardless of whether the individual intended the behaviour 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 behaviour intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety.”
Similar Incidents Reported in U.S.
Police agencies in the United States have also reported cases linked to similar Cat in the Hat posts.
In Tennessee, police said a student was arrested after allegedly making threats involving school property in an AI-generated Cat in the Hat post.
In Colorado, a teenager was charged with harassment after a similar post suggested the character would appear outside a middle school and nearby homes.
Trend Turns Children’s Character Into Horror Figure
The Cat in the Hat first appeared in the 1957 children’s book by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel.
The costume being used or imitated in many of the recent posts appears to draw inspiration from the 2003 live-action movie adaptation starring Canadian actor Mike Myers.
The current horror-themed trend may have gained momentum after a viral social media post highlighted the movie costume being put up for auction.
Some online commenters described the costume’s appearance as uncanny or “nightmare fuel,” helping transform the familiar children’s character into the basis for a darker internet trend.
Police are warning that even if participants view the trend as entertainment, behaviour that threatens, follows or frightens people can have serious real-world consequences.
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