Waymo Criticism: Beloved SF Cat’s Death Fuels Controversy
- The death of Kit Kat, a beloved bodega cat in San francisco's Mission District, has ignited a local controversy surrounding the operation of autonomous vehicles.
- Following the incident, residents created a makeshift shrine to memorialize Kit Kat.
- Jackie Fielder, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representative for the Mission District, highlighted Kit kat's death during discussions about a proposed city resolution.This resolution seeks to grant...
Neighborhood Bodega Cat’s Death Sparks Debate Over Driverless Cars in San Francisco
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Kit Kat and the Waymo Incident
The death of Kit Kat, a beloved bodega cat in San francisco’s Mission District, has ignited a local controversy surrounding the operation of autonomous vehicles. According to reporting by The New York Times, Kit Kat was struck and killed by a Waymo robotaxi on the evening of October 27, 2025.
Following the incident, residents created a makeshift shrine to memorialize Kit Kat. The area surrounding the site has become a focal point for debate, with signs appearing both criticizing Waymo and acknowledging the broader issue of traffic fatalities caused by human drivers.
Calls for Local Control
Jackie Fielder, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representative for the Mission District, highlighted Kit kat’s death during discussions about a proposed city resolution.This resolution seeks to grant local voters the authority to decide whether driverless cars can operate within their neighborhoods.
Fielder emphasized the accountability gap inherent in incidents involving autonomous vehicles. “A human driver can be held accountable, can hop out, say sorry, can be tracked down by police if it’s a hit-and-run,” she told the Times. “Here, there is no one to hold accountable.”
Waymo’s Response
Waymo, whose co-CEO recently underscored the importance of safety at TechCrunch Disrupt, described the incident as occurring when a cat “darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away.” The company stated it extends “our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community who knew and loved him.”