Hayley Erbert shared a life update in a 10-photo Instagram carousel, where she was faced with comments from concerned fans who questioned the safety of her and Derek Hough’s daughter, Everley Capri, bonding in close proximity to their family’s pet cats.
After receiving several messages, including viewers saying to “please watch kitty” next to Everley and that they know someone whose cat “laid across the baby’s face,” Erbert set the record straight about the comfort and trust she has in her cats.
Hayley Erbert Bravely Defends Her Parenting Choice
“To those who are concerned about the cats: 1. Most of you sound like you don’t even have cats. 2. If your concern is allergies, studies show that babies that are exposed to cats actually have less allergies later in life. 3. The safety of my child is priority (I shouldn’t even have to say that!!) and I will always supervise when she is around our animals. 4. My fur babies are also my babies and have been for <12 years so I will raise my daughter to coexist with, respect, and love animals,” Erbert wrote in the comments of her post from Tuesday, Feb. 10.
“I know, well hope, the comments are just coming from a place of concern and love, but everyone was raised (and parents) differently,” she added. “Respectfully, I will be keeping my daughter around our cats.”
The photo that raised concern for viewers included baby Everley sleeping with one of hers and Hough’s cats sleeping peacefully next to each other. Erbert also shared an adorable video of another one of their family cats tiptoeing in Everley’s bassinet as she slept.
Hayley Erbert’s Joyful Moments as a First-Time Mom
Before she took to her comments to courageously defend her parenting, Erbert’s Instagram post was focused on the joyful moments she’s experienced after she and Hough welcomed their firstborn in December 2025.
Erbert captioned the post, describing what each photo she shared was about, writing, “Oh how I want time to slow down already. Life lately: 1. My heart outside of my body. 2. Everley’s protectors. 3. My fur babies with my baby. 4. Mom life. 5. I should’ve listened when I was told not to get light things.. 6. Nappin.’ 7. The details I never wanna forget. 8. Daddy. 9. Palo snuggles. 10. Otis wasn’t ready for ‘his things’ to be occupied by a baby.”
