Do I have to rehome the animal before the baby is born?

In the great majority of cases, no. A healthy animal, with vaccinations and parasite control up to date, can live perfectly well with a newborn if the home is prepared and supervision is constant. Rehoming is rarely necessary and should be considered only in specific situations, together with the vet and, if needed, a behaviour expert. The most useful move is to prepare in good time, not to give up in advance on a cohabitation that usually works very well.

Is it true a cat can smother a newborn by lying on its face?

This worry rests more on tradition than on fact, but the precautionary principle still holds: cats are drawn to warmth and may seek out the cot to sleep, and no animal should be able to climb where the baby sleeps. The answer is not to fear the cat, it is to make the cot inaccessible with a closed door or a purpose made net, and never to leave the baby and the animal alone in the same room. That way the risk, theoretical or not, simply never arises.

How do I manage the litter tray once the baby starts crawling?

Place the tray somewhere the cat can reach but the baby cannot, for example behind a barrier with a gap too narrow for the child, or in a closed room with cat only access. Clean it often and wash your hands afterwards. The aim is to prevent contact in the very stage when the baby explores everything with hands and mouth, without stressing the cat by removing easy access to its tray.

The animal has become more irritable since the baby arrived: what do I do?

A change in behaviour deserves attention without panic. First rule out pain or illness with a vet visit, because the stress of the new routine can bring physical problems to the surface. Then check the animal still has a respected refuge, stable times and dedicated attention. If the irritability persists despite these steps, turn to a behaviour professional: acting early is far more effective than waiting, and in the meantime reinforce the supervision rules.

Safe home and enrichment35 minLevel: IntermediateUpdated on August 20, 2026

Making the home safe for a newborn and a pet together

How to prepare the home and habits before a newborn arrives when you already have a dog or cat: separate zones, hygiene, space management and rules.

Audience: Pet owners
Species: Dog, Cat
Scope: Valid everywhere, Italy, European Union

What you need before you start

Un animale in buona salute, con vaccinazioni e antiparassitari in regola prima dell'arrivo del bambino
Alcune settimane di tempo prima della nascita per introdurre i cambiamenti con gradualità
La possibilità di creare almeno una zona della casa riservata all'animale e una al bambino

A baby's arrival shifts the balance of a home that already has an animal, and most problems arise not from a bad dog or cat, but from a home organised at the last minute. Preparing the spaces weeks ahead lets the animal get used to the changes while it is still calm, instead of suddenly linking them to the appearance of a small, noisy being that takes over the arms and attention it always had. This guide is not about behavioural training as such, but about making the home safe for cohabitation: creating separate, respected zones, managing hygiene without alarmism, removing the real hazards, and setting clear rules for every adult. The one non negotiable premise is this: a newborn and an animal are never left alone together, not for a moment, whatever the animal's temperament.

Create separate zones before the birth

The foundation of safe cohabitation is space: the animal must have a refuge where no one disturbs it, and the baby must have areas the animal does not enter. Setting these boundaries before the baby arrives, and enforcing them consistently, avoids most of the friction. An animal that knows where to retreat copes far better with noise and change.

A refuge for the animal, away from the traffic, with a bed, water and its things, where it is never disturbed.
The nursery as its own zone: decide in advance whether the animal may enter and on what terms, and fit a barrier in good time if needed.
The baby's surfaces off limits: changing table, cot and play mat must not become places the animal climbs onto or sleeps on.
A baby gate that separates rooms without fully isolating, so the animal can see and smell without direct access.
Bowls and litter tray moved to a quiet spot out of reach of the baby who will soon start to crawl.

Hygiene without alarmism

Living with an animal is not in itself a hygiene risk if you follow a few sensible rules. The aim is not a sterile home, which is impossible and not even desirable, but reducing the chances of contact between what soils and the baby. Most of the precautions are simple habits that, once adopted, are no burden.

Basic hygiene precautions for cohabitation. For special situations, such as allergies or a weakened immune system, ask your paediatrician and vet.
Area	What to do	Why it matters
Parasite control	Keep prevention up to date before the baby arrives	Cuts fleas, ticks and parasites carried into the home
Worming	Agree the frequency with the vet, with a small child in the home	Some intestinal parasites matter more when there is a newborn
Hand washing	Wash after handling the animal and before tending the baby	The most effective measure and the easiest to forget
Surfaces and toys	Keep the baby's toys separate from the animal's	Avoids swaps and accidental swallowing of small parts
Litter and waste	Clean often and place the litter tray out of reach	Cuts contact just as the baby starts to explore

Remove the real hazards at home

Beyond zones and hygiene, the physical hazards remain that appear when objects from the two worlds mix. A walk through the home with a critical eye, before the birth, spots almost every point to fix. Work room by room with this sequence.

Secure the food and bowls
Move bowls and food bags where a crawling baby cannot reach. Kibble and treats are small objects that end up in the mouth, and a contested bowl is a source of tension to avoid.
Tidy the animal's toys and accessories
Collect toys with detachable parts, bones and chews when not in use. An animal's toy left on the floor is, to a baby, indistinguishable from one of its own.
Block access to the litter tray
Place the tray somewhere the cat can reach but the baby cannot, for example behind a barrier with a narrow gap. It prevents the least pleasant exploration of the crawling stage.
Protect the sleeping surfaces
Make the cot inaccessible to the animal, with a closed door or a purpose made net if the cat jumps. The animal must not be able to climb where the baby sleeps.
Check medicines, cleaners and cables
Lock away high up any veterinary and human medicines, cleaners and parasite products, and secure cables. These are common hazards for both animal and baby, and worth solving once and for all.
Plan the homecoming
Arrange who will greet the animal while you come in with the baby, so the first meeting happens calmly and not in the chaos of the doorway.

The non negotiable rule: never alone together

No amount of space preparation replaces supervision. A newborn cannot move an animal away, cannot turn its head, cannot signal discomfort, and even the most reliable animal can react to a sudden movement, an unexpected noise or a pain nobody noticed. The rule always applies, to every adult in the home, with no exceptions based on temperament or size.

Newborn and animal in the same room only with an attentive adult present, not busy with something else.
If you must step away even for a minute, take the baby with you or physically separate the animal.
Do not leave the baby on low surfaces, like a rug or a sofa, with the animal free to approach.
Agree the rule with all the adults and anyone coming to help, because one person's lapse is enough to undo it.
Use barriers and doors as a safety net for the moments when total supervision is not possible.

Do not neglect the animal in the new routine

Safety is not only removing hazards, it is also keeping the animal a minimum of normality. An animal suddenly neglected, losing attention, walks and predictability, links the decline of its life to the baby's presence. Preserving a few constants reduces stress and, with it, problem behaviours.

Keep the core times for meals and walks as stable as possible, even if shorter.
Carve out a few minutes each day just for the animal, when the baby is settled.
Link the baby's presence to good things, for example a stroke or a treat when the animal is calm near you.
Involve several adults, so the animal does not depend on one person who is now much busier.
Note in the diary any changes in appetite, sleep or behaviour, useful to show the vet.
Ask a behaviour professional for help at the first signs of persistent stress, without waiting for it to grow.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to rehome the animal before the baby is born?: In the great majority of cases, no. A healthy animal, with vaccinations and parasite control up to date, can live perfectly well with a newborn if the home is prepared and supervision is constant. Rehoming is rarely necessary and should be considered only in specific situations, together with the vet and, if needed, a behaviour expert. The most useful move is to prepare in good time, not to give up in advance on a cohabitation that usually works very well.
Is it true a cat can smother a newborn by lying on its face?: This worry rests more on tradition than on fact, but the precautionary principle still holds: cats are drawn to warmth and may seek out the cot to sleep, and no animal should be able to climb where the baby sleeps. The answer is not to fear the cat, it is to make the cot inaccessible with a closed door or a purpose made net, and never to leave the baby and the animal alone in the same room. That way the risk, theoretical or not, simply never arises.
How do I manage the litter tray once the baby starts crawling?: Place the tray somewhere the cat can reach but the baby cannot, for example behind a barrier with a gap too narrow for the child, or in a closed room with cat only access. Clean it often and wash your hands afterwards. The aim is to prevent contact in the very stage when the baby explores everything with hands and mouth, without stressing the cat by removing easy access to its tray.
The animal has become more irritable since the baby arrived: what do I do?: A change in behaviour deserves attention without panic. First rule out pain or illness with a vet visit, because the stress of the new routine can bring physical problems to the surface. Then check the animal still has a respected refuge, stable times and dedicated attention. If the irritability persists despite these steps, turn to a behaviour professional: acting early is far more effective than waiting, and in the meantime reinforce the supervision rules.

What to do next

Prepare the home weeks before the birth: create a respected refuge for the animal and off limits zones for the baby, move bowls and litter tray in good time, and introduce every change calmly. Keep parasite control and worming up to date, wash your hands, separate the toys, and secure medicines, cleaners and sleeping surfaces. Always apply the rule of never leaving them alone together, watch the animal's signs of unease, and preserve its routine and attention for a calm cohabitation.