Waymo robotaxi kills neighborhood store cat in San Francisco
A Waymo robotaxi ran over and killed KitKat, a well-known store cat, outside a market on 16th Street in San Francisco's Mission District late on October 27, 2025.
Key facts
- A Waymo robotaxi struck and killed a store cat named KitKat outside Randa's Market on 16th Street in San Francisco late on Monday, October 27, 2025.
- Waymo said the vehicle had stopped to pick up passengers and that the cat darted under it as it was pulling away.
- The cat was taken to a veterinarian but did not survive, the store's owner said.
- Waymo said it would make a donation to a local animal rights organization in the cat's honor.
- No people were injured.
What happened
Late on Monday, October 27, 2025, a Waymo robotaxi was stopped near Randa’s Market on 16th Street near Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. KitKat, a gray tabby who had lived at the market for close to a decade and was known locally as the Mayor of 16th Street, was nearby.
Waymo said its vehicle had stopped to pick up passengers and that a cat darted under the vehicle as it was pulling away. The cat was struck. The market’s owner said KitKat was rushed to a veterinarian but did not survive. No people were hurt.
The system involved
The vehicle was a Waymo robotaxi operating in the company’s driverless ride-hail service in San Francisco. Waymo said it reviewed the incident. The sources opened for this entry do not say whether the vehicle’s sensors detected the cat before it moved under the car.
Investigation and response
Waymo confirmed the incident later that week, sent condolences to the cat’s owner and the community, and said it would make a donation to a local animal rights organization in KitKat’s honor.
Neighbors built a memorial outside the market with flowers, candles, cards and toys, and the death drew wide local attention. No regulatory action tied to the incident was found in the sources opened for this entry.
What is not established
The exact time is not given in the sources opened for this entry beyond late Monday night; other reports returned in search results put it at about 11:30 to 11:40 p.m. This record classes the event as property damage because no person was hurt; an animal was killed.
Outcomes
- Waymo confirmed its vehicle was involved, expressed sympathy and said it would donate to a local animal rights organization.
- Neighbors built a sidewalk memorial outside the market.
Sources
- San Francisco's Mission District mourns beloved store cat killed by WaymoCBS San Francisco, October 30, 2025
- SF bodega cat struck and killed by Waymo, store owner saysKTVU FOX 2, October 30, 2025