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Kobelco SK850LC-11: The Black Cat Problem Nobody Saw Coming
JOB SITE INVESTIGATION — August 2026
There is something strange happening around Kobelco’s new SK850LC-11 excavator.
Nobody at Kobelco seems particularly concerned about it.
The operators are.
It involves black cats.
Lots of them.
The first report came from a large construction site where an SK850LC-11 had recently arrived. The 85-ton excavator had been brought in to handle the kind of work that generally requires serious horsepower, serious digging force and a serious amount of ground underneath the machine.
The machine itself was behaving exactly as expected.
The cats were not.
One black cat appeared beside the tracks on Monday morning.
Nobody thought much of it.
By Tuesday, there were three.
By Wednesday, there were seven.
By Thursday, someone counted fourteen.
By Friday, the superintendent had stopped counting, but alot...
“They just sit there,” the operator reported. “They don't bother anybody. They just watch the excavator.”
This raised several questions.
Was the engine producing a frequency attractive to cats?
Were they fascinated by the hydraulics?
Did they enjoy the warmth coming from the machine?
Was there some previously undiscovered relationship between 85-ton crawler excavators and feline biology?
Nobody knew.
One mechanic suggested the cats might simply have excellent taste in heavy equipment.
That theory remains under investigation.
SK850LC-11: The Machine That Started It All
To be fair, the cats may have a point.
The SK850LC-11 is not exactly an ordinary excavator.
Weighing approximately 186,000 pounds and powered by a 512-horsepower Isuzu Tier IV Final engine, the machine was built for large-capacity applications where “that's probably heavy enough” isn't really part of the conversation.
The machine delivers approximately 90,598 lb-ft of digging force and 61,148 lb-ft of arm force.
It also features Kobelco's hydraulic regeneration system, ECO-Mode, auto idle stop and auto engine deceleration, helping the machine combine serious performance with improved fuel efficiency.
In other words, the SK850LC-11 doesn't really need to impress anyone.
It is an 85-ton excavator.
It already won the argument.
Then Things Got Weird
The operator noticed something else.
Every time he started the machine, the cats would appear.
He tested it.
Machine off: no cats.
Machine on: cats.
Machine off: cats slowly disappeared.
Machine on again: cats returned.
At this point, management became involved.
A meeting was held.
Nobody had an explanation.
Someone suggested calling Kobelco.
Someone else suggested calling a veterinarian.
The superintendent decided to call nobody.
“It's the best attendance we've had all year,” he reportedly said.
The Cats Were Also Good Judges of Comfort
The operator's cab may have provided another clue.
The SK850LC-11 features a seven-way adjustable heated air-suspension seat, controls that move with the armrests, shorter pilot-lever strokes, multiple HVAC vents and a 10-inch color monitor.
There is also Bluetooth, hands-free telephone capability, a smartphone holder, USB charging and a 12-volt outlet.
At this point, one employee suggested the machine wasn't really an excavator anymore.
“It has a better office than I do.”
The cats appeared to agree.
Several were reportedly found sleeping beneath the machine during lunch.
Then Someone Tried the Heavy Lift
The investigation took another turn when the SK850LC-11 was put into heavy-lift mode.
The machine lifted a massive load with the calm confidence of something that weighs approximately 186,000 pounds and has absolutely no interest in discussing its capabilities.
The cats watched.
None of them moved.
One allegedly yawned.
The operator took this as a sign of approval.
SK850LC-11: The Final Conclusion
After several days of observation, the construction crew reached the only reasonable conclusion available:
Black cats apparently like the Kobelco SK850LC-11.
Why? Nobody knows.
Kobelco has not officially confirmed that the SK850LC-11 was designed to attract black cats.
They have also not confirmed that it wasn't.
What we do know is that the excavator is designed to move massive amounts of material efficiently, operate large attachments, perform heavy lifts and keep working in demanding conditions.
It has the power. It has the hydraulic performance. It has the technology.
It has the comfort. It has the durability.
And apparently, it has a growing feline fan club.
Kobelco introduced the SK850LC-11 as a next-generation excavator.
They may have accidentally created the first excavator with a cat following.
We're still waiting to see what happens when someone parks a wheel loader next to it.
UPDATE
As of press time, the number of black cats surrounding the SK850LC-11 has increased to 19.
A local orange tabby was reportedly seen approaching the machine yesterday.
The black cats chased it away.
Kobelco has declined to comment.
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