Snowtuft is a white tom from ThunderClan, who resided as a ShadowClan cat, after being taken by a hawk, and being rescued by Tigerclaw during his, Nightflower, and Mistfoot’s exile.
He was born as Snowkit to Speckletail and Smallear, an old queen and an elder tom, alongside his sister Mistlekit. He was deaf from birth and as a result, was said to never be able to become a warrior. One day in ThunderClan's camp, a hawk came and carried Snowkit off, since he was deaf and couldn't hear the warnings of his Clanmates, and was taken away. ThunderClan had assumed he was dead.
Tigerclaw saw Snowkit being taken by the foxes and saved him, taking him to ShadowClan. During their time there, Mistfoot, one of Tigerclaw’s sisters, began to teach Snowkit how to speak with signals and movements.