US schools and police forces are issuing warnings over a viral "Cat in the Hat" social media trend in which disturbing or AI-generated images of the Dr Seuss character are used to threaten students and communities, after several teenagers were arrested or charged in connection with it. The trend, which authorities note may be intended as a joke by those posting it, is nonetheless being treated as a serious matter, since causing fear for public safety can amount to criminal harassment regardless of intent.

The trend began on Snapchat, featuring a menacing version of the Cat in the Hat, often resembling Mike Myers's portrayal in the 2003 film, shown lurking near homes and schools at night, sometimes accompanied by threats naming specific people, towns or schools. It first spread in Ireland and the UK in August 2026 before going viral across the US and Canada. Recent cases include a 15-year-old charged with two counts of criminal threat near Wichita, Kansas; two students charged in Worth county, Georgia; and a 14-year-old arrested in Grand Junction, Colorado, where police increased their presence at local schools as a precaution. Authorities are urging students to report concerns to trusted adults or officials rather than sharing the content further.