Fact check: No, Horry schools did not provide litter boxes for students who identify as cats

If you’ve heard that a Horry County school is putting out litter boxes in public school bathrooms for students identifying as cats, it’s simply not true.

This time, the rumor is directed at Aynor High School with almost 900 students.

Michael McCracken, the principal, told The Sun News that he was aware of the rumors that have circulated in the past.

“It’s just completely and utterly unfounded and untrue,” McCracken said.

McCracken said there were rumors of Myrtle Beach High School and Socastee High School with similar accusations last year.

Lisa Bourcier, a Horry County School District spokesperson, said that the hoax has been circulating since last year across the nation.

This nationwide hoax went viral in January after a parent told a Michigan school district that she heard they were installing litter boxes in schools. USA Today reported that the parent claimed that the public schools had a “nefarious” agenda.

Who are “furries”?

Furscience is an organization that defines itself as the “public face” of a team of researchers studying the furry fandom. It defines furries as a “diverse community of fans, artists, writers, gamers, and role players. Most furries create for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character (fursona) with whom they identify and can function as an avatar within the community.”

This story was originally published August 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.