09/02/2026
🚨 🚨 P. A. R. E. N. T. 🚨 🚨
THE CAT IN THE HAT TREND
More Than 10 Juveniles Arrested—and Counting
What is it?
People are posting creepy TikTok videos showing someone dressed as the Cat in the Hat walking through neighborhoods and claiming, “I’m coming for you next.”
Now kids are copying, editing, and reposting these videos to make it appear that the character was seen near their own schools or neighborhoods. Some posts name specific schools, students, or communities and include threatening messages.
More than 10 juveniles have reportedly been arrested nationwide in connection with these posts—and that number continues to grow.
Some kids believe they are protected because they didn’t create the original video. They simply reposted it or added their school’s initials. But sharing content that threatens people or causes panic can still lead to serious consequences, including school discipline, suspension, expulsion, a police investigation, or criminal charges.
Initials can also create confusion. A post threatening “MHS” could refer to hundreds of middle schools and high schools across the country. Kids may knowingly share a video intended for another school while causing fear at their own.
Please talk to your kids:
Do not create these videos.
Do not edit them.
Do not repost them.
Do not add school names, initials, or student names.
Report threatening content to an adult, the school, or law enforcement.
This reminds me of the creepy clown trend from years ago. It spread fear across the country, but most of the “clowns” were never found anywhere except behind a keyboard.
A prank stops being funny when schools are disrupted, families are frightened, and police resources are pulled away from real emergencies.
Happy Parenting,
Officer Gomez
