The Sims 4 offers a vast and immersive life simulation experience, allowing players to craft intricate stories and families. For those looking to expand their Sim’s household and add a touch of furry companionship, the Sims 4: Cats & Dogs expansion pack is essential. This pack unlocks a world of possibilities, letting you welcome adorable pets into your Sims’ lives, from playful kittens to loyal dogs. If you’re wondering, How Do You Get A Pet In Sims 4? You’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through all the ways to bring a cat or dog into your Sim family, ensuring you find the perfect four-legged friend.
There are primarily three main methods to get a pet in Sims 4, each offering a unique approach to pet adoption and creation. Whether you prefer to meticulously design your pet from scratch, adopt a deserving animal through an agency, or even befriend a stray and offer it a loving home, Sims 4 provides options to suit every playstyle. Let’s explore each method in detail to help you decide the best way to add a pet to your Sims 4 game.
Creating a Pet in Create-a-Sim (CAS)
For players who desire complete control over their pet’s appearance and traits, the Create-a-Sim (CAS) method is the perfect starting point. This option allows you to design your ideal companion right from the beginning, tailoring every detail to your preference.
To create a pet in CAS, begin by entering the character creation menu. You can do this when starting a new game or by accessing “Manage Worlds” from the pause menu and then selecting “Create New Sim” in an empty lot or “Edit Household” on an existing one. Once in CAS, look for the “Add a Sim” icon located at the bottom left corner of the screen. Clicking this will reveal several options, including the crucial “Add a Pet” choice. Select “Add a Pet” to start designing your furry friend.
Upon selecting “Add a Pet”, you’ll be presented with the choice to create either a cat or a dog. Choosing either option will initially generate a randomized cat or dog, providing a base for your customization. From this point, the customization possibilities are extensive. You can fine-tune your pet’s physical attributes, including breed, fur color, size, and build, ensuring they perfectly match your vision. Beyond appearance, you can also personalize your pet’s name, age (kitten/cat or puppy/dog), gender, pronouns, voice, and even pre-set relationships with other Sims in the household. Furthermore, you can select traits that will define your pet’s personality and behavior, making each virtual animal unique.
For those seeking even greater creative freedom, the “Mixed Breed” option is available. Selecting “Mixed Breed” empowers you to blend different breeds together, crafting truly unique and personalized pets. You can carefully choose the parent breeds, influencing your pet’s appearance and even some behavioral tendencies. This feature allows for incredible diversity in pet creation, letting you bring to life everything from quirky crossbreeds to designer dogs and cats. And if you’re not completely satisfied with your mixed breed creation initially, remember that you can further adjust traits and physical appearance before finalizing your pet and returning to live mode.
If you’re already playing and want to add a CAS-created pet to an existing household, navigate to the “Manage Worlds” option in the pause menu. Select the lot your household resides on, and then click “Manage Household.” From there, you can “Edit Household in CAS” and follow the same steps to “Add a Pet” as described above.
Adopting a Pet Through the Adoption Agency
For a more immersive and story-driven approach to getting a pet in Sims 4, adoption through the in-game adoption agency is a fantastic option. This method simulates a real-life pet adoption process, adding a layer of realism to your gameplay.
To adopt a cat or dog, your Sim needs to interact with either a computer or a phone. Using a computer, click on it and select the “Household” option, followed by “Adopt”. Alternatively, using a phone, choose the “Home” icon and then select “Call Adoption Agency”. Both actions will lead you to the pet adoption interface.
Once you’ve initiated the adoption process, you’ll be prompted to choose whether you want to adopt a cat or a dog. After selecting your preferred pet type, you will be presented with a selection of available animals. Browse through the various pets showcased, each with a unique name, breed, age, and sometimes a brief description. Take your time to consider each pet and choose one that resonates with you and your Sim family.
After you’ve made your choice and confirmed the adoption, an Adoption Agent will arrive at your Sim’s home, bringing your new pet along. The agent will formally hand over the pet to the Sim who initiated the adoption. Adopting a pet through the agency incurs a fee of 200 Simoleons. While this is a small cost, it adds a touch of realism to the adoption process and is a worthwhile investment for the joy and companionship a pet brings.
Adopting a Stray Pet
For players with a compassionate heart who enjoy a more spontaneous approach to pet adoption, befriending and adopting stray animals is a heartwarming option. The Sims 4 world is populated with stray cats and dogs roaming freely, offering opportunities for your Sims to connect with and potentially welcome these animals into their homes.
To adopt a stray, your Sim needs to first encounter a stray animal in their neighborhood or in other areas of the Sims world. Once you spot a stray you’d like to befriend, have your Sim interact with it. Click on the stray animal, and a pie menu of interactions will appear. Choose friendly interactions like “Pet,” “Talk to Pet,” and “Give Treat” (if your Sim has pet treats in their inventory). Repeatedly engage in these friendly interactions to build a positive relationship with the stray.
The key to adopting a stray is to become friends with it. Continue interacting with the stray over time, consistently choosing friendly actions. As your Sim’s relationship with the stray grows, you’ll notice relationship progress notifications. Once your Sim and the stray have become good friends, a new interaction option will become available in the pie menu: “Adopt.”
Selecting “Adopt” will officially bring the stray animal into your Sim’s household. There is no adoption fee for adopting a stray, making it a budget-friendly way to get a pet. Adopting strays can be particularly rewarding as you are giving a home to an animal in need, adding an extra layer of emotional depth to your Sims 4 gameplay.
Caring for Your New Pet
Once you’ve successfully added a pet to your Sims 4 family through any of these methods, remember that pet ownership comes with responsibilities. Just like real pets, Sims 4 cats and dogs require care, attention, and training. Ensure your Sims provide their pets with food, water, clean living spaces, and plenty of affection. Investing time in training your pet will not only strengthen your Sim-pet bond but also help manage their behavior and teach them useful commands.
Adding a pet to your Sims 4 household enriches the gameplay experience, bringing new dynamics and heartwarming moments to your Sims’ lives. Whether you choose to meticulously create a pet in CAS, adopt through an agency, or offer a stray a loving home, the joy of pet ownership in Sims 4 is undeniable. So go ahead, choose your preferred method and welcome a furry friend into your Sim family today!
