You may be looking forward to the arrival of a new baby, but some members of your household may be less than enthusiastic.

Cats and dogs can become stressed and unhappy, causing problems for you and baby.

So what are the risks and can pets and babies really mix?

If you have pets and are expecting a baby, you will probably have a number of concerns. Foremost in your mind may be worries about whether they pose any threat to your pregnancy.

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And with canine attacks on children often hitting the headlines, you may well be anxious about how your four-legged friend will adapt to your new arrival.

Pregnancy safety

For mothers-to-be, the thing to remember is to avoid contact with any faeces.


This is to avoid a dangerous disease called toxoplasmosis, which can affect the eyes and brains of unborn babies, leading to problems later in life.

A mother's fears

Philippa Jones, 26, from London, is expecting her first baby in October and has owned a Labrador called Bracken for five years.

She says: 'Obviously I'm worried about how Bracken will react. You read those horrible stories in the papers about babies being attacked by dogs.

'He's such a sweet dog, I'm sure he'll be all right. But he is used to me and my husband spending a lot of time with him.'

Why dogs attack

People commonly believe dogs attack because they feel their status in the pack is being threatened, but some experts believe this is too simplistic and has no scientific basis.

Canine psychologist Kathleen Martin says: 'It's a known problem for dogs to attack newborn babies and small children. People put it down to jealousy, but dogs don't actually get jealous – it's a human emotion.'

Animal behaviourist Peter Neville says there are three reasons why a dog may attack a baby.

Mixed signals

Firstly, the baby may be using something the dog is used to having. For example, the infant could be on a chair the dog likes to sit on.

The dog will ask the baby to move using body language, which the baby, of course, doesn't understand. When the baby doesn't move, the dog will snap.

To another dog, this snap would be the equivalent to a light slap, but to a baby with soft skin and no fur, it is a serious wound.

Hunter instinct

Secondly, the baby may be seen as prey. A baby squeaks and gurgles, waves its arms around and stares with big eyes.

This can trigger the hunting instinct in dogs, causing them to try to harm the baby. Peter says this reaction is common in dogs such as terriers.

A defensive reaction

The third reason for attacks comes later when the baby is able to crawl. It is a defensive reaction caused by the baby doing something the dog doesn't like.

The dog will again give body language warnings that mean: 'Don't poke me in the eye' or 'Don't pull my tail'. If the baby ignores these signs, the dog will lash out.

Cats and babies

Cats can also suffer when a baby arrives. Rather than an attack response, you are likely to see a change in overall mood, according to Peter.

Cats are sensitive to changes in territory, and once your baby arrives they will suddenly find their environment is being used in a new way.

They may no longer be allowed in certain rooms, there will be strange new smells and sounds, and people will be spending more time in the house.

Some cats will retreat to a quiet room with the least disruption; others may insist on going into the rooms they've always used. They might reassert themselves by changing from facial gland marking to urine spraying.

Peter says: 'At the severe end of the scale, we see cats that simply can't cope with the changes. What they then tend to do is a behaviour that's rewarding for them, and they'll do it excessively to try to compensate and keep their feelings of wellbeing at previous levels.

'This may manifest itself as over-grooming. I've seen one or two that have completely stripped the fur off their tails.'

Prepare, prepare, prepare

So what should parents do to make sure they have a harmonious household? According to Peter, planning ahead is the key to keeping your pets happy when baby arrives.


Get an indoor kennel so your dog has somewhere to hide while in the house. Create routines, such as going for walks at a certain time.

'Babies like routine and animals like routine. Building those up before the baby arrives will ensure the dog takes the transition much easier.'

When your baby arrives, you will have less time for your dog. So make sure the time you spend with him or her is quality time.

Peter suggests taking five minutes after the baby has gone to sleep to play a game with your dog.

Philippa is already preparing Bracken for her baby's arrival. 'We are starting to concentrate on playing with Bracken in the utility room. That way, we're hoping he will know that's his room where we can have fun together.'


Before your baby is born, it's a good idea to get the cat used to not going in certain rooms.

Choose a specific room where you'll be able to play with the cat and have quality time away from your baby.

Peter also recommends getting a climbing centre with a nice secure box at the top, so your cat will be able to jump up out of the way and hide if necessary.

Peter adds: 'Think about changes in how the house will be used and what you can do to minimise the impact on the animal.'

Baby safety

But what about baby? Is it safe to have animals near a newborn child?

Canine psychologist Kathleen says the health risks are minimal. 'It should be fine as long as the dog has had its immunisations. We can't catch doggy diseases anyway. The only thing we can get is worms – so make sure the dog is regularly wormed.'

The same goes for cats, and it is important to make sure your pets don't have fleas. Although fleabites are not life threatening, they are incredibly unpleasant for a baby.

The rest is basic hygiene, says Kathleen, such as not letting animals lick your baby's face and always washing your hands when preparing food.

A bad reaction

Despite your best efforts, your pet may still have problems adapting to baby.

Peter says: 'If a cat or dog does react badly to the arrival of a baby, you must never punish the animal. All advice is useful, so ask around.

'And if you think you may have a problem looming, go and see an animal behaviourist before your baby is born.'

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