What Leeds parents need to know as viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend ‘arrives in city’
“How Leeds’ people are gonna be feeling knowing it’s them tomorrow” 📱
A viral social media trend that is putting a scary twist on the children’s classic Cat in the Hat has ‘arrived in Leeds’
The popular videos are the latest craze to crop up via popular social platforms like TikTok and Facebook. In the videos, people are using AI to generate ominous clips of the titular character from the 2003 Michael Myers film based on the classic Dr Seuss book.
In one such clip, which has been viewed more than 40,000 times online, the “Cat in the Hat” performs a suggestive dance with the caption: “How Leeds’ people are gonna be feeling knowing it’s them tomorrow”.
The comments on the video at least don’t seem to be taking it too seriously. One person replied: “Come Seacroft in Leeds.”
However, other more sinister clips claim to show the “Cat in the Hat” chasing someone down the street or appearing on security footage outside a home in Leeds at 1am.
Our sister title, the Express and Star, featured a warning from a parent who claims that what could start out as a prank could have serious consequences if children’s personal information is shared online
Self-described working-class mum Schannan Williams said: “I understand that kids are doing it as a prank. I understand they might genuinely think it’s harmless.
“But when children’s names and locations start being put online, we have to stop and think about the potential impact.”
The Independent has also reported on the trend, as South Yorkshire Police was forced to “debunk” a claim spread online. Fake footage appeared to show a statement about the force being “aware of a number of reports regarding a suspicious figure described as a ‘cat in the hat’ seen walking in the Meadowhall area”.
A spokesperson for the force responded: “To confirm, we have not had any reports of a cat in a hat in Meadowhall, or anywhere else in South Yorkshire for that matter.
“We can also confirm no recent sightings of his associates Thing One and Thing Two. On a serious note, if you do see posts online providing policing updates and advice, please check that they are from an official policing account.
“The cat is not out of the hat on this one... we don't have a new account or a new logo. Please don't believe everything you read on social media.”
The ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend has been shared on pages like ‘Spotted in Whitby’ as well as social media users claiming to have had “sightings” in Kent and Gloucestershire.