Proliferation of “cat eyes” Delaying Passengers at Checkpoints in Airports

September 3, 2024 – Transportation Security Administration officers are seeing a proliferation of “cat eyes” weapons being carried to checkpoints, items that are slowing checkpoint security lines.

Cat eyes weapons. (TSA photo)

“Cat eyes,” which perhaps are better known for their dangerous ears than their eyes, fall along the lines of brass knuckles. A user places their fingers through the cat’s eyes and the ears become dangerous weapons, much like a set of brass knuckles, only sharp and pointy. 

When these items are detected at the security checkpoint, the passengers and their carry-on items are pulled off to the side and their bags opened and searched to remove the weapons. 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.

Some of the “cat eyes” are metal, others are manufactured in hard plastic. Some look more like dogs than cats, but either way, they are intended to do harm. Many are detected attached to keychains.

“The frequency in which we are seeing these items among carry-on items is disappointing,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for 13 airports in Upstate New York. “Our officers are diligent in their duties and are good at spotting these weapons using the technologies at our checkpoints. I commend them for their continued vigilance and ask travelers to be equally diligent themselves and leave these items at home when packing for a flight. 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 travelers.”