The Sims 4 offers a vast and engaging life simulation experience where players can craft unique stories and control every aspect of their Sims’ lives. Expanding this immersive gameplay, the Cats & Dogs expansion pack introduces a delightful dimension: pet ownership. If you’re looking to enrich your Sim’s life with a furry companion, this guide will walk you through exactly how to buy a pet in The Sims 4. Whether you envision a playful kitten or a loyal dog by your Sim’s side, there are several ways to welcome a pet into your household.
Creating a Pet in Create-a-Sim
For players who desire complete control over their pet’s characteristics from the very beginning, the Create-a-Sim (CAS) menu offers a direct route. To start, look for the “Add a Sim” icon located in the bottom left corner of your screen. Clicking this will reveal several options, and you should select “Add a Pet”. This is the first step in creating your perfect virtual companion.
Once you’ve chosen to add a pet, you’ll be presented with the choice to create either a cat, a dog, or a mixed breed. Opting for a cat or dog will generate a random pet of that species, ready for your customization. From here, the customization possibilities are extensive. You can personalize your pet’s appearance, including breed, fur color, markings, and size. Beyond physical attributes, you can also define your pet’s personality by choosing their name, age (kitten, cat, puppy, or dog), gender, pronouns, voice, and even pre-set relationships with Sims in the household. You can also select traits that will influence their behavior and interactions within the game.
For those seeking even greater customization, the mixed breed option is incredibly versatile. Selecting this allows you to blend different breeds to create a truly unique pet. You can choose the parent breeds, influencing both the appearance and temperament of your mixed breed pet. This feature allows for highly specific pet designs. If you’re not completely satisfied with your creation at any point, The Sims 4 provides the flexibility to adjust traits and appearances even after initial creation, ensuring your pet is just right before you fully integrate them into your Sim’s world. For players who already have a Sim household and wish to add a CAS pet later, this can be done by accessing the “Manage World” option in the pause menu, selecting the desired lot, and then clicking “Manage Household.” From there, you can add a new pet through Create-a-Sim to an existing family.
Adopting a Pet in The Sims 4
If you prefer a more immersive and story-driven approach to pet acquisition, The Sims 4 offers adoption as a charming alternative to pet creation. To adopt a cat or dog, your Sim can use a computer or their phone. Using a computer, select the “Household” option and then choose “Adopt.” Alternatively, using a phone, navigate to the “Home” menu and select “Call Adoption Agency.” Both methods connect your Sim to the adoption services.
After initiating the adoption process, you’ll be prompted to choose whether you want to adopt a cat or a dog. Following this selection, you will be presented with a selection of available pets ready for adoption. Browse through the profiles, considering each pet’s breed, age, and traits to find a good match for your Sim’s lifestyle. Once you’ve made your choice and settled on a pet, an Adoption Agent will be dispatched to your Sim’s home, bringing your new pet directly to your doorstep. Adopting a pet through the agency incurs a fee of 200 Simoleons, a small price to pay for the joy and companionship a pet brings.
Beyond formal adoption, The Sims 4 also allows for a heartwarming, spontaneous method of acquiring a pet: adopting stray animals. Strays can be found wandering throughout the various neighborhoods in the game. To adopt a stray, your Sim needs to build a friendly relationship with the animal. Interact with a stray you wish to adopt by clicking on them and choosing friendly interactions. Continue interacting until your Sim and the stray become friends. Once a sufficient friendship level is achieved, the option to adopt the stray will become available in the interaction menu. This method adds a layer of realism and emotional connection to pet ownership.
Owning a pet in The Sims 4 is a rewarding experience, bringing new gameplay dynamics and heartwarming moments to your Sims’ lives. Remember that pet ownership comes with responsibilities. Once you buy a pet in The Sims 4 through any of these methods, ensure you provide proper care, training, and attention to keep your furry friend happy and healthy in their new home. Enjoy the delightful companionship that pets bring to The Sims 4!
