For many families, pets aren’t an afterthought. They’re already part of daily life long before a baby enters the picture. Pregnancy can suddenly make that relationship feel complicated, especially when safety questions start creeping in.
If you’ve been holding your breath waiting for bad news about pets and pregnancy, this is your permission to exhale. Like so many other things in life, there are risks, but a little research and planning can put your mind at ease.
The Truth About Cats and Pregnancy
There’s a lot of fearmongering out there about cats and pregnancy, especially surrounding toxoplasmosis. You go through life never hearing the term, and then—bam—you're pregnant and suddenly it’s everywhere. Should you be worried about having a cat and pregnancy?
Toxoplasmosis: Understanding the Real Risk
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
Most healthy people who get toxoplasmosis never feel sick or may have mild, flu-like symptoms. The reason it comes up so often during pregnancy is that a first-time infection during pregnancy can, in rare cases, affect a developing baby.
How Cats Transmit Toxoplasmosis
Cats can become infected with Toxoplasma gondii when they eat infected prey or raw meat, such as after catching a mouse or bird. After a first-time infection, a cat may shed microscopic parasite eggs, called oocysts, in its feces for a short period, usually one to three weeks.
Research shows that the active shedding window is short, so everyday contact with cats, especially indoor only cats, is not considered a major source of toxoplasmosis exposure. The other thing to consider is that toxoplasma oocytes take at least 24 hours out in the environment to become infective to humans. So, if you scoop your litter box at least once per day, any shed oocytes will not have had enough time to present an infectious issue.
Where pregnant women may be infected is through handling contaminated soil as infected cat feces is more likely to be in the environment for a long enough period for the oocytes to become infective.
As a veterinarian, the best advice I can give to pregnant women is to just follow normal hygienic procedures to prevent any type of illness- frequently wash your hands, especially before eating or putting anything into your mouth.
Another recommended precautions during pregnancy include:
Have someone else change the litter box when possible
Clean the litter box daily
Wear gloves when handling litter or gardening
Wash hands thoroughly after contact with litter or soil
Keeping the litter box clean and well managed is key, especially in multi cat or kitten households. If you’re still building good habits, this guide to kitten litterbox training can help set up a routine that makes daily cleaning easier.
Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats
Are indoor cats bad for pregnancy? No. And neither are outdoor cats, but there are some risks involved. Outside cats are more likely to be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii as they venture through contaminated soil and water or hunt infected prey. Indoor cats have far fewer opportunities to pick up the parasite because they are limited to what can be found inside the house, but they could still pick it up from a raw food diet, contaminated soil that is brough in on your shoes, or just living with another cat that goes outdoors.
Precautions if your cat goes outdoors
Keep hunting down as much as possible (supervised outdoor time, catio, leash walks).
Wash hands after litter box cleaning and gardening.
Wear gloves for gardening and rinse produce well.
Precautions if your cat is indoor only
Avoid raw diets and raw treats.
Keep the litter box as clean as possible and scoop daily.
Keep food hygiene tight, especially with meat handling and produce washing.
The chances that your cat is currently shedding oocysts is slim, but with a few safety precautions you can take almost all of the danger out of cats and pregnancy.
Is Cat Hair Bad for Pregnancy?
Cat hair itself is not dangerous during pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis is not transmitted through fur. Cat hair can, however, carry dander, which may bother people with allergies, but it does not pose a risk to a developing baby. In fact, some research shows that living with cats during pregnancy not only does not increase allergy risk, but it may support healthy immune development.
Are Dogs Safe During Pregnancy?
From a health perspective, dogs are not a common source of pregnancy -related infections. The risks that do exist tend to be tied to things like poor hygiene or skipped veterinary care, not everyday life with a well cared for dog. For most families, pregnancy and dogs are a steady, familiar combination. Walks still happen. Snuggles still matter. And for many people, dogs become a source of comfort during a time when a lot feels uncertain.
Can I Sleep with My Dog While Pregnant?
Yes. From a safety perspective, sharing a bed with a dog isn’t a problem during pregnancy. Research on pet co sleeping focuses more on sleep quality than medical risk, and the right answer depends on how well you sleep and how your dog behaves.
If your dog sleeps calmly, respects space, and does not disrupt your rest, there is no medical reason you must stop. If sleep has become lighter or more interrupted, or if you plan to change sleeping arrangements once the baby arrives, pregnancy can be a good time to make that transition slowly.
Preparing Your Pet for Baby’s Arrival
Pregnancy comes with enough unknowns. Your relationship with your pet does not have to be one of them. Now that you know pets and pregnancy go together, you can relax. A little preparation now can make the transition smoother for everyone once the baby arrives.
Getting Your Pet Ready for the New Addition
Pets notice change long before humans. Shifts in routine, energy, and attention all register, so this is a good time to start getting your pet ready for the new arrival.
Start adjusting routines gradually if walks, feeding times, or sleeping arrangements will change
Let your pet explore baby gear at their own pace
Reward calm, relaxed behavior
Keep familiar rituals in place wherever possible
These small steps help pets feel secure, which reduces stress-related behaviors once the baby is home.
Protecting Your Growing Family with Pet Insurance
Life with a newborn can make even simple logistics harder. Veterinary visits are no exception.
Research shows that cost concerns are one of the most common reasons pet owners delay care. Planning ahead with either dog health insurance or cat health insurance can remove that friction during an already demanding season.
Preventive care tends to slip during big life transitions, even though it matters more than ever. Adding a pet wellness plan can help keep routine care predictable, helping you to budget for things like exams, vaccines, and parasite prevention.
Staying consistent with care supports your pet’s health and helps maintain a clean, stable home environment, so you can focus on your growing family.
Cats, Dogs, and Pregnancy: What Actually Matters
If you are wondering whether dogs, cats, and pregnancy can safely coexist, or quietly asking yourself if cats are bad for pregnancy, you’re not alone. Those questions tend to surface fast and loudly once you’re pregnant.
You don’t need to give up your pets, keep them at arm’s length, or overhaul your life. A few thoughtful habits, consistent care, and a little planning are enough. For most families, pets remain exactly what they were before pregnancy: a steady, familiar part of home life as everything else starts to change.