October 30, 2025
Claws vs. Autos: SF erupts
SF neighborhood mourns loss of bodega cat allegedly killed by Waymo
Mission mourns KitKat as anger at robot cars erupts — “this means war” vibes
TLDR: A cherished Mission bodega cat, KitKat, was allegedly hit by a Waymo, sparking a sidewalk memorial and a citywide uproar. Comments split between demands for prosecution and claims robot cars save lives, with wild ideas like fenced roads and a blunt “:(” summing up grief and tech backlash.
San Francisco’s Mission District is in full heartbreak mode after KitKat, the beloved bodega cat of Randa’s Market, was allegedly struck by a Waymo on 16th Street. A vigil of flowers, candles, a tiny Fernet, and even debates over whether the white puddle was milk or wax turned the corner into a public grieving room. The store’s tribute post blew up on Instagram, with one commenter shouting “BY A WAYMO?? this means war” and a furious card at the memorial reading, “Kill a Waymo! Save a cat!” — a raw snapshot of the mood.
Online, the comment section turned into a courtroom and a comedy club. The hardliners say hit‑and‑run behavior — whether human or robot — “should be prosecuted” (rvnx), calling for real accountability and even a human safety driver who’s personally on the hook. Tech defenders clap back that robot cars are “dramatically safer than human driving” (standardUser), citing the grim reality that 120 Americans die in traffic daily. Urban dreamers veered into sci‑fi planning: “roads are fully‑enclosed in a fence” (phendrenad2) so cars shut down if anything wanders in. The dupe police showed up with an HN link, and one simple “:(” captured the community’s grief better than any stat. Waymo hasn’t commented, and the neighborhood is left asking: are robot cars ready for real city life?
Key Points
- •KitKat, the shop cat of Randa’s Market in San Francisco’s Mission District, was allegedly struck by a Waymo vehicle late Monday and died after being taken to an emergency vet.
- •Multiple accounts describe the incident, including a neighboring bar employee, an email to Mission Local from Jeff Klein, and a city 311 complaint alleging the vehicle did not stop.
- •SFGATE contacted Waymo for comment but received no response before publication.
- •A growing sidewalk memorial with candles, flowers, and offerings has formed outside Randa’s Market.
- •KitKat had been a beloved presence at the store for six years, and the store’s Instagram tribute garnered widespread attention.