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‘Justice for KitKat’: Know all about the bodega cat run over by a robotaxi in San Francisco

Lovingly known as the "Mayor of 16th Street", Kitkat was a regular at local joints and delis.

KitKat, the beloved San Francisco bodega cat (Source: Instagram/@kinshippets)

The death of a neighbourhood cat in San Francisco has sparked outrage all over the Internet. KitKat, the beloved Bodega who had stolen hearts with his cute smile and friendly charm, recently came under the wheels of a robotaxi Waymo, and citizens are not happy. Lovingly known as the “Mayor of 16th Street”, Kitkat was a regular at local joints and delis. A few days ago, the unsuspecting feline was run over by a driverless taxi, and rushed over to a nearby veterinarian hospital where he was declared dead.

Following the tragedy, the entire neighbourhood came together to mourn KitKat, building memorial shrines and congregating to get through the communal grief. The incident also raised important concerns regarding the safety of stray animals with autonomous vehicles plying on the road.

The robotaxi company acknowledged the tragedy, taking accountability and responsibility for KitKat’s death. Speaking to Rolling Stone, they shared in a statement: “We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away,” further adding, “We send our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we have made a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor.”

However, they refused to disclose the amount of the organisation to which the donation was made regarding this matter.

Waymo is a robotaxi company. (Source: Instagram/@thewashingtonpost)

While KitKat’s death is another nail in the coffin of anti-AI sentiment, stray cat deaths are a universal problem by and large – whether a car is driven by a human or technology.

Taking care of stray cats

Pet nutritionist Anjali Kalachand shared some easy tips to take care of stray cats:

1. Offer meals in a quiet and safe area – wet meals are better than dry meals as kitties are desert animals and don’t usually drink a lot of water

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2. Population control is crucial. Cats reproduce astonishingly fast- a female cat from the age of 6 months can have 4-6 kittens and reproduce 3 times a year – that’s why spaying and neutering is of utmost importance.

3. Make sure the cats that are spayed or neutered have their ears clipped so one can tell when this is done.

4. We can even put down boxes for them to sleep in.

5. If the cats are friendly and you feel they would do well in a home then try and put them up for adoption. Assess well before doing this, some prefer their independence.

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6. Kittens need special care and have lower immunity. If possible try and find them homes once are weaned off their mother’s milk.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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