Boone County students who post threatening messages tied to a viral "Cat in the Hat" social media trend face felony charges carrying one to five years in prison.
The trend involves AI-generated images or videos of a life-sized version of the Dr. Seuss character, often based on the 2003 live-action film, making threatening statements aimed at specific schools. It has led to arrests, school closures and FBI assistance in Kentucky, Spectrum News Kentucky reported Sept. 9.
Boone County Schools Superintendent Jeff Hauswald sent letters to families across the district on Aug. 20, weeks before the trend peaked in Kentucky. The district's letter, posted on the websites of schools including Boone County High School, Conner High School, Florence Elementary and Burlington Elementary, stated the district will pursue immediate legal charges for felony terroristic threatening in the second degree against anyone who makes such threats. That includes students.
The charge falls under KRS 508.078. The statute covers intentionally making false statements, including by electronic communication, that indicate an act likely to result in death or serious physical injury. The purpose must be to cause school evacuations, class cancellations or fear among students and families.
A Class D felony in Kentucky carries a prison sentence of one to five years.
Arrests across Kentucky
In Jessamine County, the Nicholasville Police Department announced Sept. 6 that a minor had been arrested and charged after the FBI helped identify the suspect behind threatening "Cat in the Hat" messages targeting local schools, WLKY reported. In Allen County, a crime task force identified a juvenile accused of posting threatening TikTok messages featuring the character, according to Lex18.
At least 10 juveniles had been arrested nationwide in connection with the trend as of Sept. 8, the New York Post reported.
Assumption High School in Louisville closed Aug. 31 after a post related to the trend. Louisville Metro Police said there was no credible threat associated with the posts. Trinity High School in Louisville also closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, after a separate threat, though police said that incident was not connected to the trend.
The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security told at least one superintendent the trend likely originated overseas and had been circulating in the United States for months before reaching Kentucky, according to Fox 56. That reporting cited Bourbon County Schools Superintendent Larry Begley.
What the FBI says
FBI Special Agent Nathan Head told Spectrum News Kentucky that the imagery alone is not illegal, but threats change the equation.
"Just posting the video itself is not a crime, however, accompanying it with threats that focus on a school or student or institution can be a crime," Head said.
Head said the FBI can step in when local agencies request support or when threats cross state lines. He urged parents to monitor their children's online activity and help them understand responsible social media use.
What Boone County families should do
Campbell County Schools, which borders Boone County, issued a statement around Sept. 2 saying it was aware of the trend, WLWT reported. The Boone County Schools letter did not name the "Cat in the Hat" trend specifically but addressed the broader wave of school threats.
Hauswald's letter urged parents to talk with their children immediately. It stated that school and law enforcement officials are determined to stop what it called willful acts of terrorism against students, and asked families to make sure their children understand the seriousness of the offense.
Families who see threatening posts can report them to local law enforcement or the FBI.
