Cat in the Hat horror parody The Cat and the Hatchet drops teaser trailer

Director Cameron Dodd‘s horror short The Cat and the Hatchet, a non-profit parody of The Cat in the Hat, released a teaser trailer online on 19 September 2026 introducing Scratches the Cat.

TL;DR

• The Cat and the Hatchet is an unauthorized horror short parodying The Cat in the Hat.
• Mark Ricci plays Scratches the Cat, the mischievous visitor turned menace.
• Six Side Studios and Prime Capitol are behind the short, and no release date has been announced.
• The production says it is a non-profit parody with no affiliation to the official IP.

What happens in The Cat and the Hatchet

The short follows two siblings, Ellie and Connor, whose boring day takes a terrifying turn when Scratches the Cat turns up at their house, according to Bloody Disgusting. The strange visit becomes a nightmare once Scratches shows a sense of humor far more sinister than either child expected.

Dork described the setup as home-invasion horror. Don’t get me wrong, the title does most of the explaining.

Who is behind the short

Dodd directs. Actor Mark Ricci stars as Scratches and produces alongside Kaleb Carmichael, with production from Six Side Studios and Prime Capitol.

Prime Capitol recently released the horror short Simon Says, which is now available on Tubi, according to Bloody Disgusting.

A parody, not an official adaptation

The film is described as an unauthorized parody, not affiliated with the official The Cat in the Hat IP. It joins a crowded shelf of childhood icons turned slasher, a list that Bloody Disgusting said already includes Mickey Mouse, Bambi, Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh.

The horror parody trend has a British anchor. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, from English filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield, opened in UK cinemas on 10 March 2023, according to Wikipedia.

Release date and UK availability

Dork reported that no release date has been announced, though the teaser confirms the short is coming soon. That means no UK date either. The teaser itself is on YouTube.

We’ll keep you posted on updates about The Cat and the Hatchet as the project develops.

Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 21 September 2026.