Part 1: The Reality No One Talks About
Bringing a new baby home is stressful as it is—but bringing a new baby into a house full of animals begging for your attention? That can feel like a recipe for disaster.
I recently became a mom to a sweet little boy, and as a first-time parent, I had no idea what to expect. Not only was this a completely new experience for me, but it was also a huge adjustment for my 12 pets.
When I turned to social media for advice, I came up short. There are endless posts about what to expect during labor or what sleepless nights with a newborn look like—but hardly anything about what happens with our first babies… our pets.
And that part matters.
What I Thought Would Happen
Each animal is different, and I know mine really well. Going into it, I had a pretty good idea of how things might go:
- Jelly (cat): Nervous at first, but quick to adjust—and eventually soaking up baby cuddles
- Nemo (cat): Cautious in the beginning, but once comfortable, acting like the baby is his—kisses included (and probably sneaking snacks later on)
- Cooper (border collie): The ultimate mother figure… or maybe more of a smother figure
- Sebastian (Jack Russell/Dachshund mix): Confused about who took over his lap, a little nervous about the noise and movement, but eventually won over by food drops and a new buddy
I felt confident in my predictions.
But there was still that voice in the back of my mind:
What if I’m wrong?
What if they don’t like the baby?
What if it’s not safe?
Pretty typical fears for a new mom—but very real ones.
Still, I knew one thing for sure:
I was determined to make it work.
Why This Mattered So Much to Me
Before becoming a mom, I spent four years working in an animal shelter. During that time, I saw animals being surrendered over and over again because family dynamics had changed.
One of the most common reasons?
“I don’t have time for my pet anymore.”
Hearing that over and over sticks with you.
So when I became pregnant, I made a promise to myself:
I would make sure my animals still had everything they needed—and still got the attention they deserved.
And I was lucky enough to have a husband who was completely on board and ready to support that goal.
Because the truth is, bringing home a baby doesn’t just change your life.
It changes theirs too.
And the real challenge isn’t just preparing for a newborn—
it’s figuring out how to keep your pets feeling safe, secure, and loved through it all.
👉 In Part 2, I’ll break down why pets struggle so much with big changes like a new baby—and what’s really going on from their perspective.
The Katz Nest 
Leave a response here!