iKitties.com ads: what it is and how to remove it

iKitties.com is a seemingly harmless site that focuses on fluffy human friends - cats. While there is nothing unreliable about the website itself, it has been caught in taking part in adware campaigns recently, and users reported on several social media platforms that they started to get iKitties.com redirects seemingly out of nowhere.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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iKitties.com: ikitties com adware youtube for tv extension
iKitties.com as our 2020 report showed it.

IKitties.com ads: summary

NameiKitties.com
Related appYouTube for TV (YT TV)
TypeAdware, browser redirect
InfiltrationAdware programs can be downloaded on third-party sources (quite often, users install PUPs unintentionally due to software bundling), installed after being tricked by scams or even obtained from official sources
DangersRedirects and ads that are displayed by some adware programs can be less than secure: users can end up on malware-laden, scam, phishing, or other malicious sites. As a result, they might infect their machines with malware/other potentially unwanted programs, disclose sensitive information to third parties, suffer financial losses, etc.
SymptomsIntrusive ads appear on all visited websites, redirects bring to random websites (in some cases, malicious), web browser settings are changed to something else
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 9 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
Evidence6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Domainsikitties.com
Ads shown asRedirects through ad pages
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen3 April 2020
Facts checked6 October 2026

What the iKitties.com ads ads look like

redirects to an unknown domain

ikitties.come started popping up due to this extension, not worth it anymore sadly unless you want random ads suddenly out of nowhere.

Is iKitties.com ads dangerous?

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

iKitties.com - a cat-themed website that users are forced to visit due to adware infection

iKitties.com is a seemingly harmless site that focuses on fluffy human friends - cats.

While there is nothing unreliable about the website itself, it has been caught in taking part in adware campaigns recently, and users reported on several social media platforms that they started to get iKitties.com redirects seemingly out of nowhere.

However, the iKitties.com redirects and other intrusive browser behavior does not come from the website itself but rather from a potentially unwanted program installed on the computer unwillingly.

While ads, redirects, pop-ups, changed settings of Google Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox, and other symptoms can be associated with any unwanted software, the particular suspicious activity surrounding the iKitties site was traced to YouTube for TV (otherwise known as YT TV) browser extension.

Just to be clear - the so-called "iKitties.com virus" is something that less IT-savvy users came up with - the website is legitimate and has no malicious indicators. Besides, none of the AV engines detect it as suspicious/malicious on Virus Total.

Nevertheless, it does not mean that people do not have a problem with it, as many are keen to remove iKitties.com redirects from their Macs or Windows machines as soon as possible.

Adware is deceptive software that is usually downloaded unintentionally from third-parties, when users are keen on looking for a freeware, for one reason or another. Such software allows free installation and usage, although it uses different monetization methods, such as ads. Many programs use such schemes, although some PUPs, such as iKitties.com adware, can be quite intrusive.

Due to the abuse nature of monetization principles used by adware in the early years of its existence, regulations were implemented over time. As a result, reputable download sources do not allow apps to serve intrusive, malicious, suspicious, or otherwise controversial ads. Nonetheless, some apps still remain on official sources like Chrome Web Store (iKitties ads related app YouTube for TV) - this is because they change the behavior over time.

Several users complained on Chrome Store, asking for iKitties.com removal:

Keep in mind that YT TV is not the only app that can be related to iKitties.com redirects and other unwanted browser activity. For example, users might end up on scam sites that claim malware infections - these typically urge them to download scareware apps and later spend money on them. Other scam scheme involves visitors calling fake tech support after they are notified about alleged viruses on their computers.

To uninstall adware related to iKitties, you should check all the installed apps on on your device. If you find something suspicious, terminate it immediately as per instructions we provide below. If you recently installed YouTube for TV extension - get rid of it immediately and use alternatives for the functionality. Also, if you experience issues in Windows systems (lag, crashes, errors) that were caused by adware/malware, employ to fix them.

iKitties.com: ikitties com adware youtube for tv extension
iKitties.com in our 2020 report.
iKitties.com: ikitties com installed adware redirects
iKitties.com in our 2020 report.

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

Ways to avoid potentially unwanted programs

As a general security practice, experts always advise to rely on official sources for software downloads, although, as you can see, some apps manage to slip past Google's defenses and have to be withdrawn only after thousands of users download malicious apps.

And Google is not the only industry giant which security fails sometimes - Apple's App Store also had to remove malicious apps after letting them in. In such cases, there is very little that users can do, except of trusting the technologies implemented to protect them from harm.

However, this is nothing in comparison to sites that populate software cracks, cheats and pirated programs - these are extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all times. Additionally, there are also plenty of third-party sites that host legitimate apps, although using them might cause installation of programs users did not intend to install in the first place.

This is because sites like Softonic, File Hippo, CNet, and many others run the software bundling business model, meaning that they receive commission when promoted software is installed.

Thus, to avoid unwanted programs, you should always pay attention to the installation process of a new app - here's what to look out for:

  • Additional apps hidden under Recommended/Quick installation options, so make sure you pick Advanced/Custom settings
  • Pre-ticked boxes
  • Misleading deals/offers
  • Fine print text
  • Misplaced buttons, etc.

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on iKitties.com

  • To stop iKitties.com redirects, adware should be eliminated from the system.
  • used to be a brilliant addon, but has now turned to adware.
  • very concerned why I was suddenly getting ikitties.com and dudetube.com, needs to go.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: ikitties.com

How to remove iKitties.com ads

How to stop the iKitties.com redirects

Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.

  1. Step 1: Check the browser's extensions

    A browser that keeps landing on ikitties.com by itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.

    Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue

    When ikitties.com keeps opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.

    If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads

    Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.

    In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

Get rid of potentially unwanted programs on Windows by following these instructions:

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

In some cases, adware can modify web browser settings without permission, which could result in further unwanted activity after its termination. If that is the case, reset Google Chrome as explained below:

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

In case you encountered unwanted browser extensions that you never installed and you cannot deleted them in a regular way, simply reset MS Edge:

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

macOS users should perform the following steps when trying to eliminate iKitties-related adware

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Access your website securely from any location

When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.

If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.

Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks

While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.

More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.

Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

Get rid of pesky iKitties redirects

As previously mentioned, the term iKitties virus is not correct, as the website itself does not perform any malicious actions.

Nevertheless, redirects to it can be extremely persistent and many users are willing to remove iKitties.com from their browsers once and for all.

For iKitties.com removal, you should first check if you have an associated browser extension installed YouTube for TV/YT TV. If you have, simply right-click on it and select Remove from Chrome - the annoying redirects and ads should stop after that. If you do not have this extension installed, however, means that the intrusive browser behavior is associated with an unknown adware app.

Besides, you should also reset the installed web browsers (guide below) if AV software flagged something.

iKitties.com: ikitties com user complains on chrome store site
iKitties.com in our 2020 report.

Questions about iKitties.com ads

Why does my browser keep going to ikitties.com?

Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.

On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. ikitties.com itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.

Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.

Should I worry about redirects to ikitties.com?

Worry less about ikitties.com itself and more about what keeps sending you there. A single redirect from a free streaming or download site is normal and harmless once the tab is closed.

Repeated redirects on sites that used to work fine mean something in the browser or in Windows changed, often an extension or program installed alongside other software. It may also collect the pages you visit. Remove the cause with the steps in this guide, and do not act on anything the redirected pages ask:

  • no Allow clicks
  • no downloads
  • no calls

If you already did one of those, the matching section of this guide explains what to do next.

What is iKitties.com?

IKitties.com is an ad redirect domain, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.

IKitties.com does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.

Why does ikitties.com keep showing up?

There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from ikitties.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.

If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if ikitties.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.

Which browsers does iKitties.com affect?

In the cases we checked, iKitties.com showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.

Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.

Are the pop-ups I see really from iKitties.com?

Compare them with the details in the table above. IKitties.com produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to ikitties.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.

If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.

Did iKitties.com collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?

Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.

Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

Will Fortect remove iKitties.com?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For iKitties.com, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

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