Several Republican candidates for office have made claims that students in schools are now identifying as “furries”, specifically cats, and using litter boxes in schools – all with the support of school employees and policies. This claim has not been substantiated and appears to be a rumor.

Scott Jensen, the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota parroted a similar claim at a speech last week.

“Why are we telling elementary kids that they get to choose their gender this week? Why do we have litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry?”

He is not the only conservative figure to speak on this issue either.

Heidi Ganahl, the Republican candidate for governor of Colorado recently claimed that multiple Colorado schools are enabling students to identify as animals on Jimmy Sengenberger Show.

“Yeah, kids identifying as cats. It sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it’s happening all over Colorado and schools are tolerating it. It’s insane. What on earth are we doing? Knock it off, schools. Put your foot down. Like, stop it. Let’s get back to teaching basics and not allow this woke ideology, ideological stuff, infiltrate our schools. And it is happening here in Colorado. It’s why I moved from Boulder Valley to Douglas County, because it was happening in my kids schools four years ago.”

Other prominent Republicans like Lauren Boebert have echoed similar tales of schools allowing students to identify as animals.

Schools have patently denied any claims related to children identifying as cats, dogs, or any other animals. Thus far no evidence has been brought forth to corroborate any of the claims either. Independent fact checkers have also dismissed the claims, but they still persist in conservative circles as a talking point.

This comes on the heels of a fierce gender identity debate. Specifically, on a school’s role in supporting LGBTQ+ students and their identities.