{"id":195464,"date":"2026-02-26T22:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T22:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195464\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T22:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T22:08:14","slug":"16th-and-mission-bodega-gets-new-cat-after-waymo-tragedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195464\/","title":{"rendered":"16th and Mission bodega gets new cat after Waymo tragedy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Every cat has his day. That\u2019s what Mike Zeidan, the owner of Randa\u2019s Market in the Mission District, hopes will be the case this time around at least.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meet Shadow, the kitten that\u2019s arrived to take the place of store mascot once held by KitKat<\/a> (the absolute legend and mayor of 16th Street, tragically killed by a Waymo<\/a> last year) and Coco<\/a> (who went into early retirement after being diagnosed with feline leukemia<\/a> and is currently living at a shelter<\/a> in Santa Rosa).<\/p>\n

Shadow, a one year-old black domestic shorthair, moved to the store from the SPCA Adoption Center two weeks ago, Zeidan said. At the time of the adoption, he was called Mozart, but Zeidan was not a fan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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After multiple suggestions that included \u201cGuinness and Onyx, a customer put forth \u201cShadow.\u201d Zeidan knew that was it.<\/p>\n

Shadow seemed scared and a little annoyed by the new digs initially, but a steady stream of tribute from customers (including treats and a nice collar) turned things around.<\/p>\n

\"AShadow loves naps, customers, treats and boxes, just like KitKat used to do, On Tuesday Feb. 24, 2026. Photo courtesy of Mike Zeidan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s adapted pretty well. He seems very happy and very friendly with the customers\u201d said Zeidan. He is, the liquor store owner said, a \u201cgood cat so far.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zeidan said customers are already in love with Shadow and tell him how beautiful he is, and especially remark on his eyes. They\u2019ve described him as friendly, playful and happy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It will be impossible to replace KitKat, all acknowledge: The feline was a mainstay on the bar-filled street for years and known to hundreds if not thousands of Mission District goers. Video showed<\/a> he was near the vehicle\u2019s front tire, apparently invisible to the Waymo\u2019s cameras<\/a>, 25 seconds before the self-driving car struck and killed him. The district supervisor has called for legislation<\/a> to curb Waymo in the city, and a memorial shrine outside the store is still populated by fresh flowers four months after the killing.<\/p>\n

Zeidan described Coco\u2019s departure so soon after losing KitKat as heartbreaking. But, he said, Shadow has brought back a spark back to the routines of store life.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has some of KitKat\u2019s traits,\u201d said Zeidan. \u201cHe loves boxes. Anytime I open a box, he wants to go and jump in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shadow has also discovered some of KitKat\u2019s favorite spots around the store, Zeidan said, like a perch above a glass display case. On a recent rainy Tuesday, Shadow was napping on a box Zeidan placed there.<\/p>\n

\"AShadow also loves to look out the window facing 16th Street. Photo courtesy of Mike Zeidan.<\/p>\n

The main difference with KitKat? Shadow\u2019s an indoor cat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does not like to go outside,\u201d said Zeidan. \u201cHe saw a pigeon the other day and he wanted to go outside. He went outside, but he got scared and ran back in. He loves to sit on the window and just watch the outside.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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