Police debunk viral AI Cat in the Hat hoax in UK and Ireland

Police forces across Ireland and the United Kingdom have issued statements to debunk a viral AI-generated hoax involving a “killer” Cat in the Hat. The trend, which spread rapidly on TikTok, featured videos and images appearing to show the Dr. Seuss character stalking residential streets, often styled to look like Ring doorbell camera footage.

Authorities, including the Wexford Gardaí and South Yorkshire Police, confirmed that the sightings are entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence prompts. The videos, which have amassed millions of views, caused genuine alarm among residents and teenagers, with some social media posts even falsely claiming that police were increasing patrols or urging citizens to “lock your doors.”

Law enforcement officials emphasized that no actual person in costume has been spotted and no criminal activity has occurred. The phenomenon has been compared to the “killer clown” internet panic of 2016, though officials noted this instance is driven by AI-generated imagery rather than physical actors.