Selina Kyle's young life was marred by tragedy. Her mother took her own life, while her violent father drank himself to death soon after. Being remanded to an abusive state home, Selina escaped and took her chances on the streets. She soon fell into petty theft and eventually became a talented master thief. However, in recent years she has reformed and now fights crime. It was through her crimes that she first encountered the Batman and although they were enemies they soon both discovered that they had an attraction toward each other. Due to their complicated situation, neither party has ever fully committed to having a romantic relationship.

Years of training have made her stealthy and agile as a world-class criminal, and her mastery of the martial arts makes her a formidable physical opponent. She also frequently wields a whip, which she uses both as a weapon and as a grappling hook.