West Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are seeking an individual dressed as the Cat in the Hat who allegedly chased a teenage girl last month. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on August 24, near the 2000 block of Shamrock Drive, when the girl was walking home. She reported being pursued by a figure in a full Cat in the Hat costume.
The teen escaped unharmed, but police issued a warning about the dangers of such pranks. Corporal Devon Gerrits stated that while wearing a costume is legal, pursuing someone in a manner that causes fear for their safety could constitute criminal harassment. "People should understand that behavior intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety," Gerrits said.
Authorities are requesting anyone with dashcam or security footage from the night of the incident to contact the West Kelowna RCMP. Parents have been advised to instruct children who feel they are being followed to go to a safe, populated area, contact a trusted adult, and call emergency services if in immediate danger.
The chase incident follows a series of unsettling Cat in the Hat sightings reported at schools in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, fueling a viral trend that has caused concern among students, parents, and educators. These appearances have been characterized by people posting images of life-sized Cat in the Hat figures standing outside windows or in darkened streets.
In Kentucky, school administrators closed a school late last month after AI-generated images of the character targeting schools and individuals surfaced. According to the Courier Journal, Eric Davis, Director of Student Services for Oldham County Schools, stated that while the messages did not represent a credible threat, the trend had appeared in numerous districts nationwide over the past two months. "In nearly every documented case, law enforcement has determined the content to be fabricated, using anonymous accounts and AI-generated images to provoke fear rather than carry out any actual act of violence," Davis added.
Authorities in Texas have also issued warnings about the trend, with police departments and school districts noting that children are manufacturing fake sightings by editing and reposting videos. Over 10 juveniles have reportedly been arrested nationwide in connection with similar posts. In Florida, a 15-year-old was charged with multiple felonies for threats against a high school posted on TikTok.
Similar events occurred in the UK and Ireland, where false rumors of organized violence, reminiscent of the 2016 "killer clown" craze, spread online. Videos showing individuals dressed as the Cat in the Hat have garnered millions of views on social media. Some posts included warnings, such as "Kent I’m coming. Lock your doors." Police investigating these incidents determined that many of the videos were AI-generated, assuring the public that there was no real threat.
One 16-year-old, identified only as Skye, recounted an experience where she became frightened during a sleepover after watching Cat in the Hat videos at 3 a.m., leading her to call her mother for a ride home.