Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Kills Cherished San Francisco Bodega Cat, Sparking Safety Outcry

KitKat, a beloved 9-year-old tabby known as the "Mayor of 16th Street" and a fixture at Randa's Market in San Francisco's Mission District, was tragically killed after being struck by a Waymo autonomous vehicle. The accident occurred late at night as the Waymo vehicle was stopping to pick up passengers; witnesses and an anonymous complaint allege the vehicle did not slow down or attempt to avoid KitKat as he darted under it. The incident has deeply affected the local community, which has created a growing memorial with flowers, candles, and photos at the site, and has sparked significant social media attention and mourning. Waymo expressed condolences to the cat's owner and the community, stating it will donate to a local animal rights organization in KitKat's honor, while emphasizing the importance of trust and safety. This fatal collision has also highlighted a critical technical limitation in autonomous vehicles: the blind zone beneath the car chassis that makes detecting small animals like KitKat challenging, underscoring the industry's struggle with edge cases in AV perception and safety. The event has intensified public wariness about driverless cars operating in busy urban environments and raised questions about the readiness of autonomous technology to handle unpredictable, real-world scenarios.