Trained in home science at Otago and did post graduate training in dietetics in Australia, after which she was employed as dietitian in charge at Hobart General Hospital.

Kitty Kain was living and working as a teacher in the Straits Settlements before the war whilst her husband, Maurice Kain a mining engineer, was working in Malaya. Kitty Kain returned to New Zealand as war was threatening and also as she was pregnant

Kitty Kain served 1941-1943. She was the RNZWAAFs first commanding officer, appointed as the Superintendent of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1941 she began the task of recruiting and organising the new service based at Rongotai, Wellington

In 1942 emergency regulations incorporated the service into the Royal New Zealand Air Force with the ranks being equivalent to the men. Kitty Kain's rank became Wing Officer, the equivalent of Wing Commander

She was responsible for organising the RNZWAAF with 39 categories of staff in 28 New Zealand stations and Fiji. Beginning with 200 staff, the service grew to 3600 in 1943.

Wing Officer Kitty Kain resigned from the service in December 1943 when pregnant with her second child.

Her OBE (Mil) was awarded in 1949 AWMM