A beloved neighbourhood cat named KitKat, affectionately known by locals as the “Mayor of 16th Street,” was struck and killed by a Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco’s Mission District last week — igniting grief, anger, and a new wave of debate over the safety and accountability of autonomous vehicles.
According to local reports, the nine-year-old tabby was crossing 16th Street near Valencia in the early hours when she was hit by a Waymo-operated Jaguar I-Pace. The company confirmed the incident, saying the vehicle was operating in autonomous mode with a safety driver present at the time. Waymo described the event as “deeply unfortunate,” offering condolences to the cat’s owner and community, while asserting that its vehicle had detected the animal but was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision.
For many Mission District residents, that explanation was not enough. KitKat was more than a local stray — she was a cherished fixture of the community, known for lounging outside cafés and greeting commuters. Locals have since built a makeshift memorial at the site of the accident, complete with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes. “She was part of the soul of this block,” said one neighbour. “If even KitKat isn’t safe, what chance do we have?”
The incident has reignited public concern about the rollout of driverless cars in busy urban environments. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), has expanded its robotaxi service throughout San Francisco despite repeated protests from residents and city officials who say the vehicles sometimes block fire engines, stall in intersections, or behave unpredictably.
Animal advocates have now entered the discussion, arguing that autonomous-vehicle testing is not only a human safety issue but also an animal-welfare concern. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) noted that self-driving systems must be tested for responsiveness to small, fast-moving creatures like cats, dogs, or raccoons. “Urban wildlife and companion animals are an integral part of city life,” a spokesperson said. “Technology must adapt to that reality.”
Critics point out that artificial-intelligence detection systems are still limited when identifying small animals, particularly at night or in poor lighting. Machine-vision models often prioritise human-sized objects or larger obstacles. “The technology remains imperfect,” said one robotics researcher at Stanford University. “Pedestrian detection is now quite advanced, but differentiating between a paper bag, a shadow, and a cat is still a serious technical challenge.”
Waymo maintains that its fleet is among the safest on the road, citing millions of autonomous miles logged without a human fatality. However, the emotional resonance of KitKat’s death has made this accident different from previous controversies. To many residents, it symbolises the growing sense that technological progress is being imposed on communities without their consent.
As tributes continue to appear on 16th Street, KitKat has become a poignant emblem of San Francisco’s uneasy relationship with its own future — a city caught between its tradition of innovation and its deep-rooted sense of neighbourhood life.
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