A beloved cat from a San Francisco community has died after being hit by a self-driving Waymo vehicle, leading to significant sadness on social media. KitKat, fondly referred to as the “mayor of 16th Street,” was struck by the Waymo late Monday night, as reported by his owner, Mike Zeidan, who also manages Randa’s Market, where KitKat was a well-known figure. The local community cherished him, and he often appeared on the market’s Instagram profile.
On that evening, the autonomous vehicle stopped close to the market but allegedly did not reduce its speed or evade the cat, according to an anonymous complaint filed with 311, as reported by The Standard. Zeidan told The Standard that KitKat was discovered beneath the Waymo. A staff member from the store took him to an animal hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The store’s Instagram now includes a highlighted tribute to KitKat. “We’re devastated to announce that our dear store cat, KitKat, has departed,” the post states. “He brought love, joy, and solace to everyone who entered our doors. Thank you to all who adored him as we did. The store will feel different without his little paws wandering about.”
Additional memorials have emerged on social media, including TikTok, displaying photos and videos of a shrine to KitKat near the store. “If you’re not a 16th Street regular this might seem trivial but this cat meant so much to this community. if you knew KitKat you’d understand [sic],” one TikTok from user @frijolefiddler expresses, showcasing a video of the memorial adorned with flowers, pictures, and KitKat bars. The video has received over 500,000 likes. Grieving fans have also shared saved videos of KitKat as remembrances.
On Thursday, Waymo responded to SFGATE’s questions about the incident, acknowledging it while not accepting liability. Waymo announced a contribution to an animal rights organization in KitKat’s memory: “The trust and safety of the communities we serve is our utmost priority,” Waymo told SFGATE. “We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was halted to pick up passengers, a nearby cat ran under our vehicle as it was moving away. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the cat’s owner and the community that knew and loved him, and we will be donating to a local animal rights group in his remembrance.”