ST. LOUIS (KSDK) -- At first glance, it looks like a kitty cat keychain.
"It's an adorable little thing to keep on your keychain," said Susan.
But that adorable thing is actually often known as Cat Eyes or some go by Watch Cat: Keychains to help with self-defense.
“Susan” agreed to speak with our sister station KSDK 5 On Your Side us if we concealed her identity for legal reasons.
"You stick your fingers through the eye holes of the cat, and the ears are used similar to what a key through the fingers would be. [My friends] had kind of gotten them after some reports of attacks on women here locally," said Susan.
5 On Your Side found that carrying a cat-eye keychain is illegal in Missouri. In fact, legally they are classified much the same as knuckle dusters or brass knuckles.
Unfortunately, Susan found out the hard way.
"I think if something is illegal it shouldn't be readily available on the Internet for $5 and marketed to women," she said.
Last month, she says she had completely forgotten about the keychain until she was at the airport on her way to Mexico for a vacation. That's when the TSA had some bad news.
"They told me carrying the cat eyes is similar to carrying a switch blade. It's illegal to even carry these things in public," said Susan.
Susan was arrested and briefly detained by airport police. And now, she's facing criminal charges.
"Apparently the consequences of carrying this keychain in public is $1000 fine or one year in jail," said Susan.
High profile celebrities like Lena Dunham have also found this out the hard way.
Now with a legal battle looming, this woman has a warning for others.
"It would definitely not be worth the jail time or a fine for such a cute keychain," said Susan.
In Virginia, it's illegal to carry in public "metal knucks" such as brass knuckles, with it being a Class 1 misdemeanor that can carry up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
