Shadowcat is a mutant and part of the X-Men. She was one of the original students recruited to the team. After the New Mutants were formed, Kitty served as an instructor for them, alongside the other original students. She formed a relationship with Avalanche, who she broke up and rekindled with on numerous occasions. She developed deep friendships with Jean Grey, Rogue, Nightcrawler and Cyclops, the latter she initially expressed romantic interest in. She also had a father-daughter relationship with Wolverine, who she saved and had been saved by on occasion.