Police forced to debunk “Killer” Cat in the Hat AI hoax spreading across the UK and Ireland

Police forces across the UK and Ireland have debunked a viral AI-generated hoax showing a sinister Cat in the Hat lurking outside homes, confirming the images were created with AI prompts and not real sightings. Wexford Garda stated the character was 'essentially an AI prompt' and 'not in your driveway,' while Glasgow Police issued a similar statement. The hoax, which spread on TikTok as fake Ring doorbell footage, prompted official responses in Sheffield, Glasgow, Dublin, and Limerick, and drew comparisons to the 2016 'killer clown' panic.

A bizarre AI-generated hoax has swept across the UK and Ireland, showing a sinister, towering version of the Cat in the Hat lurking outside homes at night. The images and videos, often styled to look like Ring doorbell footage, spread rapidly on TikTok, leaving many convinced a costumed figure or coordinated prank group was actually targeting neighborhoods after dark. Police step in to calm the panic Sightings were rumored in cities including Sheffield, Glasgow and Dublin, prompting multiple police forces to respond directly. A spokesperson for Wexford Garda addressed the panic head on. “In an unusual turn of events we are hearing a lot about an illusive Dr Seuss character doing the rounds online, apparently causing havoc in neighbourhoods and towns across the country,” they wrote. “Fortunately, we can rule out the issue, which is essentially an AI prompt that places the character into images and videos of familiar places. To be clear, the Cat in the Hat was not in your driveway while you were out.” Glasgow Police issued an almost identical statement, and Gardaí in Dublin and Limerick also confirmed the images were entirely fabricated. Authorities pointed to the real-world consequences of viral AI hoaxes like this one. Last year, a fake “AI homeless man” prank led to a wave of unnecessary 999 calls, including one from a parent convinced a stranger was inside their home while their child was alone. The trend draws obvious comparisons to the 2016 “killer clown” panic. Unlike that craze, though, which involved real people in physical costumes. Related It is not the first time an AI trend has caused genuine confusion online. In January 2026, one of TikTok’s most wholesome cat accounts turned out to be entirely AI-generated https://www.dexerto.com/tiktok/tiktoks-most-wholesome-cat-account-is-actually-ai-3304422/ , fooling thousands of viewers who had no idea the content wasn’t real.