Neighborhood Icon KitKat Killed by Robotaxi

Summary

• KITKAT is a tribute to a beloved San Francisco street cat allegedly killed by a Waymo self-driving car on October 27.

• KitKat lived at Randa’s Market in the Mission District for six years and was known as the “mayor” of 16th Street.

Read the full story

KitKat was a well-known tabby cat who lived at Randa’s Market on 16th Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. Locals considered him the unofficial “mayor” of the block, known for greeting customers, napping on sidewalks, and visiting nearby shops and bars. He became a fixture of the neighborhood and received gifts from residents who considered him family.

On the night of October 27, around 11:30 p.m., KitKat was allegedly struck and killed by a Waymo autonomous vehicle while sitting outside the store. According to the store owner and eyewitnesses, the robotaxi veered off its path and ran over the cat without slowing down. KitKat was rushed to a 24/7 vet hospital but didn’t survive. A 311 complaint was filed shortly after, with the store owner criticizing Waymo’s inability to detect small animals in the dark.

The death triggered widespread grief, with neighbors creating a sidewalk memorial featuring candles, cat toys, KitKat bars, and protest signs against autonomous vehicles. Around 15–20 locals gathered the next evening to mourn, share stories, and comfort the store owner. The story spread across Reddit and Threads, reigniting debate over self-driving safety in San Francisco.

Justice For KitKat launched October 30 and passed 4.5M market cap on day one.