Canadian police are searching for a person who allegedly chased a teenage girl through a West Kelowna neighbourhood while dressed in a full Cat in the Hat costume, part of a wider spate of unsettling appearances by figures dressed as the Dr Seuss character that has unnerved schools and families across the UK, Ireland and the US. The West Kelowna RCMP said the incident, though possibly intended as a prank, could amount to criminal harassment, as it caused the teenager to fear for her safety, highlighting how the seemingly light-hearted viral trend has real-world consequences.

The chase happened around 9pm on 24 August near Shamrock Drive, with the unidentified suspect photographed lurking on a darkened street in the character's distinctive red-and-white striped hat and gloves. Corporal Devon Gerrits said wearing a costume is not illegal, but following someone in a way that makes them fear for their safety could cross into criminal behaviour, and police have appealed for dashcam or security footage. The broader trend has seen AI-generated images of the character used to target schools in Kentucky, prompting a temporary closure, while districts in Texas have issued warnings and a 15-year-old in Florida was charged with multiple felonies over related threats posted on TikTok; authorities say most cases involve fabricated content designed to provoke fear rather than genuine violence.