Just Started Trying to Conceive? The First 10 Things You and Your Dog or Cat Should Do

You don’t have to do anything drastic the moment you start trying — just start these ten things now, in whatever order fits your life, so you’re not scrambling for time later.

If you’ve just started trying to conceive and you’re wondering what that means for your dog or cat, here’s the short version:

• Nothing needs to change overnight.
• Nothing here involves rehoming.
• Nothing here involves “getting rid of” your pet.
• Nothing here involves “reconsidering” your pet.

Most standard pet-prep advice technically starts once you’re expecting — but there’s no reason not to get a head start now, and one thing on this list is genuinely worth doing before you conceive.

What’s in this checklist

1. Get tested for toxoplasmosis immunity now
2. Book your pet’s own wellness checkup
3. Start or restart the basics: sit, stay, come, off
4. If your dog jumps on people, start working on it now
5. Get honest about any existing behavior concerns
6. Note where the litter box lives right now
7. Start thinking about who else can help with walks and care
8. If you have more than one pet, don’t assume one plan covers both
9. Keep your pet’s routine steady
10. Give yourself permission to not have it all figured out yet

1. Get tested for toxoplasmosis immunity now — this one’s actually pre-conception-specific.

Unlike most of this list, this step is genuinely tied to the trying-to-conceive window rather than just “the earlier, the better.” It’s a simple blood test your doctor can order, checking whether you already carry antibodies to toxoplasmosis from prior exposure. If you do, you can’t be reinfected, which means one less thing to monitor once you’re actually pregnant. If you don’t, your doctor can walk you through simple precautions rather than anything drastic — and either way, owning a cat is not on its own a reason to worry.

If you want to know more: the CDC’s toxoplasmosis overview is a clear, plain-language explanation of the infection, how it spreads, and why pregnancy is the main time it matters.

2. Book your pet’s own wellness checkup while your calendar is still empty.

A full checkup, updated vaccinations, and a parasite/flea-tick check now means one less appointment to squeeze in later, during a third trimester or with a newborn in tow. Ask your vet to flag anything in your pet’s history — joint issues, anxiety, a chronic condition — that might need extra attention as your household changes. This isn’t a pre-conception-exclusive step so much as a “do it while you have time” one, but that’s exactly why now, while your schedule is still your own, is a good moment. Most vets can knock this out in a single visit if your pet is already relatively healthy.

3. Start or restart the basics: sit, stay, come, off.

You don’t need obedience-school-level training — just a dog who reliably responds to four commands under normal household distractions. These specific four matter because they’re what get you through a hallway, a doorway, or a stroller walk safely later, when your hands and attention are already full. If your dog already knows these, treat this as a low-stakes refresher rather than a new project; a few short sessions a week is plenty. Reward-based methods work well here and don’t require any special equipment beyond treats your dog already likes.

4. If your dog jumps on people, start working on it now.

This is one of the most common things people wish they’d fixed earlier, and it’s a completely fixable habit with consistency. A jumping dog isn’t a good match for a baby bump, or later, a baby in your arms, simply because of the physical risk involved. As early as possible — whether that’s now, while you’re trying, or once you’re expecting — is genuinely the easiest time to work on it, since you’ll have more patience and fewer distractions than you will later. Simple techniques like turning away and rewarding four-paws-on-the-floor tend to work well without needing a professional trainer, though one can help if progress stalls.

5. Get honest about any existing behavior concerns.

Reactivity on leash, fear of strangers, resource guarding, separation anxiety — if any of these already show up, loop in your vet or a certified trainer now rather than hoping they’ll resolve on their own. These behaviors are common and manageable, but they’re much easier to address with time on your side than in a crisis moment later, when your attention is split between a newborn and everything else. Being honest here isn’t about judging your pet; it’s about giving yourself the most options and the most time to work with a professional if needed. A single consultation now can save a lot of stress down the road.

6. Note where the litter box lives right now.

If it’s anywhere near what might become the nursery, you have months to move it gradually, a few inches at a time, so your cat doesn’t associate the change with anything stressful. No need to do anything today — just get it on your radar so it isn’t a last-minute scramble in your third trimester. Cats can be particular about sudden changes to their bathroom setup, and rushing this step is one of the more common causes of litter box avoidance later. We cover the full gradual-move timeline in a companion article once you’re ready for it.

7. Start thinking about who else can help with walks and care.

You don’t need a plan today — you need to start the conversation, with a partner, a friend, or a dog walker, about who picks up the slack when you’re exhausted, at appointments, or recovering later. Think through the specific daily tasks your pet needs (walks, feeding times, litter changes) and who realistically could take each one over if you couldn’t. Early is easier than urgent, and having even one backup person lined up removes a real source of stress later. This is also a good moment to research boarding or pet-sitting options in case you need them around the birth itself.

8. If you have more than one pet, don’t assume one plan covers both.

A dog and a cat, or two dogs, often need different timelines and different prep, since their routines, personalities, and needs rarely line up exactly. Trying to run one combined checklist for multiple animals usually means one of them gets less attention than they need. Give each pet their own short list, even if some items overlap, and let each animal’s current behavior set its own pace.

9. Keep your pet’s routine steady — don’t overhaul everything at once.

It’s tempting to want to “fix everything” the moment you start trying, but pets do better with gradual change than sudden change. Introducing new rules, new furniture, and new training all in the same week is more likely to create stress than progress. Pace yourself and space things out — you have months, not days, and steady small changes tend to stick better than a rushed overhaul anyway. Your pet will adjust more easily to a few changes a month than to everything at once.

10. Give yourself permission to not have it all figured out yet.

You’re allowed to be at the very beginning of this, with an unchecked list and no clear timeline yet. Nothing on this list needs to happen this week, and there’s no prize for doing it all at once. The fact that you’re even looking this up means you’re already ahead of where most people start, and that counts for more than people admit. Take it one item at a time, and let the rest wait until it’s actually relevant to you.

The bottom line: None of this has to be perfect, and none of it has to happen this week. Start with whichever item feels easiest right now — a vet visit, a training refresher, a conversation with your partner — and let the rest follow at whatever pace makes sense for your home. By the time you’re actually expecting, you’ll already be a few steps ahead, and that’s exactly the point.