Netflix’s ‘Most Twisted’ True-Crime Doc Left Viewers Seriously Disturbed — And Some Say They Wish They’d Never Pressed Play

Netflix has no shortage of true-crime documentaries, but one series released years ago continues to leave an unusually strong impression on viewers.

Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer arrived on Netflix in 2019, yet audiences discovering the three-part documentary today are still describing it as disturbing, shocking and difficult to forget. One viewer admitted the experience left them feeling so queasy they regretted watching it at all.

And judging by reactions elsewhere online, they are far from alone.

An online investigation takes a horrifying turn

The documentary begins with a disturbing video posted online involving animal cruelty.

Rather than simply ignoring what they have seen, a group of internet users begins working together to identify the anonymous person responsible. What starts as an online hunt for answers gradually develops into something considerably darker as the investigation uncovers increasingly troubling events.

Netflix summarizes the premise: “A shocking online video brings together a widespread internet group of animal lovers out for justice. Their target, meanwhile, has more horrors planned.”

The documentary does not need to rely on particularly graphic imagery to make its impact. Knowing the circumstances surrounding the footage — and understanding where the story is heading — proved more than enough for some viewers.

One writer who recently watched the series admitted it made them feel “genuinely queasy” and suggested it was definitely not something to put on immediately before dinner.

‘This doc is not for the faint of heart’

Viewer reactions underline just how unsettling the documentary can become.

One IMDb user said they had somehow lived through the period surrounding the major events, between 2010 and 2014, without knowing about the case.

That made watching the story unfold particularly shocking.

They described it as one of the most “wild, insane, gruesome, and shocking” sequences of events they had encountered in a true-crime documentary, adding: “This doc is not for the faint of heart.”

Another viewer admitted: “This really messed me up.”

Despite binge-watching the entire documentary and describing it as “really good,” they warned sensitive audiences to approach it carefully. They noted that Netflix provides a warning and said the documentary does not actually show the acts themselves, but argued that repeatedly seeing the surrounding footage while knowing what happens was disturbing enough.

A third viewer struggled to believe the events were real, comparing the story to the plot of a Hollywood horror movie.

Others call it one of Netflix’s best documentaries

Despite — or perhaps partly because of — its deeply unsettling subject matter, Don’t F**k with Cats has also attracted significant praise.

One Rotten Tomatoes viewer called it “one of the best documentaries I have ever watched.”

Another described the series as a “gripping rollercoaster” capable of keeping audiences on edge from beginning to end.

That contrast has helped explain the documentary’s lasting reputation. It is compelling enough that some viewers finish all three episodes, yet disturbing enough that they may immediately warn others about what they are getting into.

Years after its original release, Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer remains one of those true-crime titles that viewers continue discovering, discussing — and occasionally wishing they could forget.

Don’t Fk with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is available to stream on Netflix.**