Transportation Security Administration officials in Albany are warning travellers about a concerning uptick in innocuous-looking concealed weapons called “cat eyes.” “The frequency in which we are seeing these items among carry-on items is disappointing,” Bart R. Johnson, the TSA Federal Security Director for 13 airports in Upstate New York, lamented in a statement.
These popular self-defense accessories, which are generally made of metal or hard plastic, are similar to brass knuckles but they’re in the shape of a kitty face — hence the name.
The wielder simply slips their fingers through the eye holes, and then uses the pointy ears to slash and gouge attackers, evoking a knuckle duster Catwoman might use against her foes.
Like with brass knuckles, the TSA classifies the feline-themed accessory as a club and prohibits travellers from transporting them in their luggage. If cat eyes are detected during security screening, the TSA will take the passengers aside and search their bags for the items, per the release.
“At that point, the TSA officers give the traveler their choices to either return the item to their vehicle; hand them off to a non-traveling companion; return to the airline counter to place them in a checked bag; or voluntarily surrender them to TSA for disposal,” the TSA writes.
Nonetheless, flyers’ often forget they have these items on them due to their cutesy countenance — some are even modelled after dogs — and the fact that they’re generally attached to keychains for easy access, USA Today reported.
“We come across these items daily and it slows down passengers who must stop and wait for our officers to remove the offending item and it backs up the line for the other travellers,” said Johnson.
