Kerr spent her early years in Berlin just before the start of the Third Reich and her father was on a death list because of his opposition to the Nazis. Her family fled Germany and most of their property was seized in 1933 when she was nine years old. Rosen claims the tiger could be based on her memory of the past threat: something that could have disrupted her life as a young child and taken everything the family owned.
Kerr spent her early years in Berlin just prior to the outbreak of World War II and her father was on a death list due to his opposition to the Nazi regime. Her family escaped Germany and most of their assets were confiscated in 1933 when she was nine years old. Rosen suggests that the tiger may have been inspired by her recollection of a past threat: something that could have disrupted her life as a young child and resulted in the loss of everything the family possessed.