Waymo killed KitKat. California neighborhood mourns a corner-store cat

"KitKat graced the counters of Randa's Market on 16th Street, near the historic Roxie Theater in the Mission District. KitKat was first introduced on the store's Instagram page six years ago, quickly winning over the hearts of customers. He wasn't a surly or suspicious cat - he could be seen playing with someone's dangling hoodie drawstrings; snoozing in front of shelves with liquor bottles; inside a cardboard box marked with his name; greeting the neighborhood dogs; even dressing up as Santa Claus."

"He shot to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic's first year. Not only was he posted on the @bodegacatsofinstagram account (which now has more than 500,000 followers), but he also won a mention in a news story on beloved store cats. "The atmosphere in the store definitely changed after KitKat arrived," Daniel Zeidan, the store owner's son, told SFGate. Not only did he get treats from customers, but also "someone recently brought him a blanket so he would stay warm in the winter.""

"But he was fatally wounded around 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 27 just outside the market, Mission Local reported. Two witnesses, speaking anonymously, told the news outlet that they had just left Dalva and saw KitKat sitting in front of a stopped self-driving Waymo for about seven seconds. Then the cat walked under the vehicle, heading toward the sidewalk, as the car pulled away. The right rear tire ran over KitKat, the website said."

KitKat was a longtime corner-store cat who lived at Randa's Market on 16th Street in the Mission District and became a neighborhood fixture. He appeared on the store's Instagram and on @bodegacatsofinstagram, attracting followers and affection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers gave him treats, a blanket, and he used a heating pad; he often lounged in the store, greeted dogs, and visited the next-door bar Dalva. On Oct. 27 around 11:40 p.m., witnesses said KitKat sat in front of a stopped Waymo robotaxi, then walked under the vehicle as it pulled away; the right rear tire ran over and fatally wounded him, prompting public mourning.

Read at Los Angeles Times