Welcome back to Skipper and Her Baby’s Journey — Part 4! 🐾
If you’ve been following along, you already know we’ve got an adorable baby kitten growing up in our foster room alongside her sweet mama, Skipper.
And if you’re new here—hi! You’re just in time for the cutest phase yet.
As of tomorrow (Sunday, April 13), Skipper’s baby will be 5 weeks old—can you believe it? She’s growing fast, and if you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel, you’ve seen her journey unfold in real time.
Watching her hit those tiny milestones has been the inspiration for this week’s blog post.
We have fostered over 100 kittens over the past 8 years, and one thing we’ve learned is how crucial those first 8 weeks are—especially with mama cat by their side.
From nursing and warmth to teaching kitty manners, mom plays a big role during this stage.
So today, we’re diving into the first 8 weeks of a kitten’s life—why those early weeks matter, what kind of growth and changes to expect, and how Skipper’s baby is doing so far at week 5.
Stick around for helpful tips, sweet moments, and plenty of fuzzy kitten feels. 🐱💕
Weeks 1–2: A Rough Start and a Whole Lot of Love
Skipper’s baby had anything but an ordinary start to life. She was born at the emergency vet via C-section—Skipper needed surgery to bring her into the world.
Sadly, of the six kittens Skipper was carrying, four were already deceased inside her. The vet had to remove them first to reach the two still alive.
The first living kitten was incredibly weak and, heartbreakingly, passed away shortly after. That left just one tiny survivor—Skipper’s baby. Our little miracle. 💕
She had her first car ride on day 2 when we picked her up from the vet—not something many kittens can claim in their first 48 hours!
During these early weeks, she spent her days in a cozy custom bed we made, eyes sealed shut and nestled up with Skipper. At this stage, newborn kittens sleep around 90% of the time, only waking to cry for mama’s milk.
And every single time she cried, Skipper came running—completely tuned in and devoted. It was like she knew just how precious this one baby was.
Watching that bond form in those first weeks was something special—Skipper was attentive, gentle, and absolutely on it as a mama cat.
Weeks 3–4: Eyes Open and On the Move
Another milestone, another car ride! At around 3.5 weeks old, our little one had her second adventure outside the foster room—something most kittens definitely don’t do this early on.
This time, it wasn’t for her—it was for Skipper. Her journey is one of survival too. She came to us with half her tail missing and a paw that had clearly been through some rough times.
Our vet wanted to check her out and see how she was healing. Skipper will eventually have to have surgery on her tale, but the paw may heal on its own.
But with the baby still so small, we weren’t comfortable separating them, not even for a couple of hours. So both mama and baby loaded up for the ride.
...well, sort of. 😂
We had baby in the carrier first, and as I tried to get Skipper in, baby made a break for it! She somehow managed to escape the carrier—and then she went for the big leagues, waddling right out of the foster room! 😮
Sure, she was still wobbly and slow, but the determination? 10/10.
At this age, her eyes were wide open, and her curiosity was starting to bloom.
That little moment gave us the first real peek into her budding personality—independent, spunky, and already keeping us on our toes.
Weeks 5–6: Zoomies, Food Experiments, and Sneaky Escapes
And here we are—almost 5 weeks old and already keeping us on our toes.
Although she hasn’t officially hit week 5 yet (that’s Sunday!), the latest video on our YouTube channel was taken just a few days ago. And trust me, she’s leveling up fast.
She’s moving quicker now, and this morning? She escaped the foster room... again. My wife caught her in the act—tiny paws, big mission, zero hesitation. 😄
She’s also showing interest in food already, which couldn’t have come at a better time. Skipper is slowly tapping out of the whole “mom mode” thing. The other day, she managed to sneak out of the foster room and was found at the top of the stairs, just taking in the view like, “Okay, I’ve done my part!”
We’ve introduced a tiny litter box... but honestly? We’re not sure she even knows what it’s for yet. 😂 Right now, her preferred potty spot seems to be the feeding tray—yep, the one with her and her mom's food on it.
Sooo, litter training is in progress... kind of. Let’s just say, she’s got the concept of going, just not the location. We’re keeping things positive and patient, knowing she’ll get the hang of it soon.
This is also the beginning of the socialization sweet spot. We’re spending more time downstairs, offering cuddles, playing little games like hide-and-seek (as you saw in the video), and helping her get used to people, sounds, and all the fun things life has to offer.
These early weeks are key to raising a confident, happy kitty, and we’re here for it—one tiny paw print at a time.
Weeks 7–8: Big Kitten Energy Incoming (We Think!)
As for what weeks 7 and 8 will bring—well, we’re just going to have to wait and see with this little one!
Here’s what we’ll be watching for: she should become even more active, playful, and bold, turning into a full-fledged tiny explorer. She's already showing a strong interest in dry food, so we've been softening it with water to make it easier for her to eat. By weeks 7–8, she should be able to handle it on her own like a pro.
Litter training will (fingers crossed 🤞) also improve as she continues to mimic mama Skipper’s behavior. We’re hopeful that by the end of week 8, she’ll have figured out that the litter box—not the food tray—is the place to go. One can dream, right?
Now, usually at this stage, shelter protocol says mama cat leaves to dry up and get spayed—but since Skipper was already spayed during her emergency C-section, our journey might look a little different. We’re not totally sure what’s next for this dynamic duo, but we’re excited to find out.
Conclusion: One Wild, Wonderful Kitten Journey (So Far)
From a dramatic emergency birth to unexpected car rides, tiny wobbly escapes, and some creative litter box choices, this little kitten’s first few weeks have been anything but ordinary.
Through it all, Skipper has been an incredible mama—devoted, patient, and strong. And her baby? A tiny miracle with a growing personality and a whole lot of heart.
We hope you’ve enjoyed following along with Skipper and her baby’s journey so far. Whether you're here for the info, the laughs, or just the cute overload, thank you for being part of this story. 💛
We’ll keep sharing updates, milestones, and (of course) kitten antics as they come. Be sure to check out the latest YouTube video if you haven’t already, and keep an eye on purrfectfun.com for future blog posts.
Until next time—stay cozy, give your own kitties some extra love, and never underestimate a 3-week-old kitten on a mission. 🐾😄
Catch Up on Skipper’s Story
If you’re new here or just want to relive the journey, you can check out the first three parts of Skipper and her baby’s adventure below:
https://www.purrfectfun.com/2025/03/feline-pregnancy-complications-how-we.html
https://www.purrfectfun.com/2025/03/c-section-spay-recovery-in-cats-what.html
https://www.purrfectfun.com/2025/03/the-truth-behind-calico-cat-gender-and.html
