The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs

Adopting, Training, and Caring for Pets

Guide to the Sims 4 Pets - Cats and Dogs Expansion

Owning a cat or dog in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Expansion doesn't add major gameplay changes mechanics-wise, they're just a great household addition. I say that as a pure gameplay guide writer, because it's not exactly easy to write about how owning pets works in terms of gameplay. This should help newer players to understand how to take care of a pet and the realities of owning one. Sims can have fun with pets, build relationships with them, and enjoy socializing with their companion animals. Caring for them is not much different than in reality - feed them, go to the vet, provide them love and make sure they're happy. Despite the differences between the two species and their behaviors in reality, a lot of what goes into caring for them is the same when it comes to owning pets in The Sims 4.

Getting a Pet

Adopting a Cat or Dog

Adopting a ghost pet
Adopting a Ghost Cat from the Brindleton Bay Pet Cemetery (see bottom of guide)

You'll find the option to adopt a cat or dog under the 'services' menu on your Sim's phone. There you can opt to pay $200 to have an animal care worker visit your home and show off up to three animals. You can use 'get to know' on them, learn their traits, and decide which of them you'd like to keep. You don't have to befriend them, and it seems you can adopt more than one. You may not want a stubborn dog, for they're hard to housebreak. Most breeds seem to have a trait they all come with, such as German Shepherds being smart. When you're done, talk to the animal welfare worker and select, 'end adoption evaluation'.

Adopting a Stray

When you meet a stray animal while out and about in the neighborhood, you can also adopt them that way - which is free. Get to know them a bit and befriend them, and once you're at 'good friends', you can invite them into the household under the friendly menu. A few treats and pets go a long way to securing an animal's friendship. There's a stray named Mayor Whiskers - including tophat - that wanders the town of Brindleton Bay whom you can adopt.

Pet Traits

Each pet can have up to 3 separate pet traits, all of which will impact their autonomous choices and behaviors. Some of them are useful for Sims, too, such as having a dog capable of searching. While a guide to what these do is forthcoming, it's worth noting in a basics-of-pets guide. You can learn a pet's traits by using the Get to Know social on them, found under the friendly menu. Interaction with Pets doesn't increase Charisma, because they don't know whether you're being a dork or not.

Caring for Pets

Pet Needs

Pets have all the same needs that Sims do. Or seem to. You won't see them directly, but the pet will tell you very plainly what's wrong if you pay attention to the social cues that appear over its head. You also have the option of clicking the pet, selecting 'pet care' and 'what's wrong'. A box will appear in the notification panel that tells you exactly what the pet needs.

Pets seem to need to eat about once a day. Fill a bowl with food for $5 (found under the kitchen tab in buy mode) and they'll eat when they're hungry. If you have multiple animals, you can buy an automatic food dispenser and set it to refill every x hours. This can save your Sim a lot of time if they're single. Try to make sure enough meals are dispensed each day.

Housebreaking Dogs & Litter Boxes for Cats

Teaching a dog to go outside (housebreaking) in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Housebreaking a dog is as simple as asking it to go outside. Thankfully you don't have to wait hours for them to do it.

When the pet needs to go, this is where the two species diverge. Dogs should prefer to go outdoors, and are gradually housebroken (potty trained) while cats will want a litter box. Litter boxes can be found in the bathroom in buy mode, and will naturally prefer this option. Again you can save time with a self-cleaning litter box, though they're more expensive. Cats who go on the carpet can be scolded, though stubborn animals are harder to train. You can eventually get a cat that goes 100% in the litter box. A small tip: make sure the arrow on the litter box in buy mode is facing a blank tile. Naturally, there are pathing requirements for pets despite the fact that cats can climb on top of the fridge.

A cat can't use the litter box in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Be mindful of litter box placement. This won't work, due to pathing mechanics in the game.

Neither adult nor juvenile dogs start knowing how to pee or poop outside, at least when they're made in CAS. Puppies will need help to go outside, so pick them up under the pet care menu. Walk your Sim outside and select 'put down'. Now you can find the option to ask it to go potty. Do this several times, and you'll get a notice that the dog has learned to pee outside. You can also reinforce this by scolding (mean) or lecturing (friendly) them after they have gone indoors. It is as yet unknown if treats reinforce good behavior, but they're only $5 so give it a shot. I've not yet successfully taught a puppy to go outside. I think they learn when grown up.

Other Needs

Giving a dog a bath in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Dogs get absolutely filthy over time, and must be bathed.

Animals like to have fun, just like humans do. They may end up in a bad mood if they're not provided with toys, unless your Sim plays with them directly. Cats and dogs also like affection, so interaction with other animals and their owners will satisfy that need. Dogs need bathed, though cats can and do take care of themselves. In order to bathe a dog, you'll need to have a bathtub. They can get rather dirty after rolling in their own 'puddles'.

Illness - Animal Sick? Take it to the Vet

A cat visits the veterinarian in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
A cat gets a preventative shot from the vet, which will protect it from illness for two full weeks.

Pets can get sick, and when they do it's possible the illness will cure itself. However, some sicknesses are pretty bad. To take your pet to the vet, load up the map and select to travel to the Veterinarian clinic in Brindleton Bay. You can select your sick pet under 'travel with. Once you're there, use the terminal in the lobby to sign up for an appointment, then wait. It'll be in the $200 range to get a sick pet treated. You can also elect to get a preventative shot, like a vaccine, which lasts two full weeks and prevents illness altogether.

Veterinary Skill

A vet table in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Sure, let's do this right here in the living room, Lucy! A Sim can practice veterinary medicine on their pets at home.

Your Sim doesn't have to require the services of a Vet long-term. You can use the veterinary table and lab found under the Pets tab of build mode (under objects by function) to learn to practice veterinary medicine! Do not try this at home. Your Sim will unlock new treatments and treats that may help your animal in a number of ways, though they're unlikely to discover the mystery illness at an extremely low level. It's worth taking up for animal lovers - some of the items are very handy for pets at home though the equipment is rather expensive if you want the good stuff.

Pet Life Spans

Pet lifespans are modified by the game's global settings. They will not age if you've turned household aging off in the game menu.

LifespanPuppy/KittenAdult Dog/CatElder
Short1.5 Days12 DaysVaries
Normal3 Days24 DaysVaries
Long12 Days96 DaysVaries

Training and Misbehaviors

Cats tear up furniture in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Cats will absolutely shred the furniture and jump on counters. Teach them not to do those things.

Pets will eat poop, drink from the toilet or other animals' puddles, and cats will scratch the couch. In all, there are about a dozen misbehaviors you'll need to work out which depend on if it's a cat or dog. When you see the animal do this, you can use 'lecture' under the friendly menu or 'scold' under mean, in order to discipline that behavior. It's up to you what you allow your pet to get away with. Give cats a scratching post to help protect the furniture - they need it. Over time, as you discipline the pet, they'll gradually learn what not to do. You'll see a notice they've stopped doing that behavior, similar to housebreaking a dog.

Drinking from a puddle in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
A dog drinking from a puddle. They also eat poop, which should be picked up and saved as great fertilizer.

This is a separate issue from training a dog. Dogs learn tricks, facilitated by the Pet Training skill, which is mostly focused on canines. It's a minor skill, in that it only features 5 levels. You'll learn a number of tricks and get better at teaching these tricks faster. It is possible to join a dog-training group (using Get Together's Clubs function) and gain bonus experience at teaching pets, while making friends with other Sims and helping your buddy to do the same.

Death & Pet Neglect

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Neglecting a Cat in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Neglected Animals are Taken by the Animal Welfare Worker

Pets can only die of old age. Fail to feed your pet, and a social worker will come. You'll see an exclamation point above the pet's portrait in the bottom left just before this is going to happen. It takes a very long time to get to this point, so most players should have no trouble unless they're deliberately neglectful or extremely distracted.

Brindleton Bay Pet Cemetery in the Sims 4 Cats and Dogs Pets Expansion
Brindleton Bay Pet Cemetery

When old pets die, they DO become ghosts just like Sims. There is also a Pet Cemetery in Brindleton Bay, although you cannot edit it. You may see ghost cats and dogs there if you visit at night. Find the cemetery by traveling to the island with the lighthouse and museum. It's in a rocky, forested area to the north.

Should you visit and build a relationship, which takes 1/4 the time it does to build a friendship with Sims, you can actually invite a ghost animal to join your household just like a stray.

Veterinarian: Making Pets Immortal

Players who pursue the Veterinarian Skill will find that high levels offer them the ability to craft age up and age down potions. What is more, players can also resurrect a ghost pet using the veterinarian form of ambrosia, craftable at max level. This is the only way to bring your pet back from the dead.

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Comments (39)

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New
Jen Jensays...
pet has fleas how treat ?
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Senior
Playalotsays...
You can take him to a vet clinic and then book the pet in. Or place down the exam table in your home lot and try treating the pet by yourself.
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New
Retroberriisays...
Puppies can learn to go outside. I started with one out of CAS, and he learned after about 2 days. I think I might have been sending him out a bit more than necessary though (he woke my sim at 4 am, I assumed he had to pee lol).
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Senior
Playalotsays...
Oh! Good to know!Smile
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Senior
Carlsays...
Mine was just dense then. As Play said, thanks for letting us know for sure.
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Regular
Katiesays...
Will my pet age up naturally? And if so how will i know when they are about to age up?
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Senior
Playalotsays...
Your pets will age up naturally if you have aging on in your game play settings. I haven't had one age up yet but I'm assuming their will be a notification and then the usual sparkles etc like with sims.
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New
Tsays...
I just had my puppy age up and it showed a notification saying th at my pet aged up.
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New
Fignesays...
Hey i need help
My dog is sad all the time and then i asked what’s wrong and it said that my dog needed to cool down how do i do that??
Please help me!!
(Im from Denmark so og theres something you dont understand that’s why)
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Senior
Playalotsays...
There is a bug, unfortunately, that is linked to either the wellness vet treat or the preventative vet shot that causes pets to be continuously in a negative mood.
If you pet has this then there is a cheat workaround. If it is not this then when you click on your pet and ask what's wrong a notification will tell you what to do and then you will find a new interaction on your pet such as 'calm your pet down' etc. Usually doing this once is enough but you can repeat the interaction if you need to.
EA Bug Report and workaround
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New
MGliddensays...
The "training" option isn't showing up at all with my dog. Is there something I need to do to make it appear, or is it a bug?
The "trained commands" option is there becuase I taught her to fetch, but I can't teach her anything else.
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New
MGliddensays...
Fixed! I believe it was because I created the dog in CAP and then moved it in with the family. To fix it I gave the dog up for adoption and then adopted it right away again :)
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Senior
Playalotsays...
So you think the problem was adding a pet to an already existing played household? Thanks for the feedback because quite a few players are having issues like this.
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New
erikasays...
I did that, but when I did, my dog got other traits. They were bad traits, and the sim lost the realationship with the dog. It used to be at 100%. I realt don’t know what to do
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New
LoulaBellesays...
I need help with the game. Since downloading cats and dogs I can not go to work using the Police career. The building is gone when I arrive at work and everyone stands outside. Another thing is I cannot hire a chef from the fridge anymore or at all. When the maid comes she doesn’t clean. The butler doesn’t do anything either. I don’t have any mods or cc.
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New
Succubustysays...
Do you use mods? This looks like something that’s related to a script mod that is no longer working correctly after installing the new expansion. Try running your game without any mods & see if the issue is fixed.
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New
LulaBellsays...
No, I don't have any mods nor custom content. I never have with the Sims 4
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Delete the localthumbcache.package file from your TheSims 4 folder and then do a Repair through Origin. The repair requires a bit of internet usage so be aware of this if you have a measured connection. 99% of the bugs and glitches cleared from my game after I did a repair. Hopefully it may help you too.
How To -Repair Your Game
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New
Savannahsays...
I've started a vet clinic, and I've been able to treat pets, but I can't bill the owner. I'll click on the option, but nothing happens. I have no mods installed.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
This is a reported bug. Take a look at the Bug Report, there might be something there to help you, you can add a 'me too' to help bring it to EA's notice as well.

Can't Bill Customers - Vet. EA Bug Report
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New
Beckiesays...
If you "repair game" it should fix that issue and after treating the pet your sim will go to the owner and talk to them and get paid.
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New
Tilliesays...
Hey all!

What does it mean when my dog is scared of a man with a lampshade on his head? At least it's what I think it is when it pops up in the thought bubble. Scared

Thanks!
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Admin
Playalotsays...
It means the pet is scared of something. You should be able to use the 'calm your pet down' interaction to help alleviate this.
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New
Slsays...
My dog is constantly afraid, I have learned it's a bug with the wellness treat, however when I ask the dog what's wrong it doesn't give me an option to calm pet after.
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Admin
Playlotsays...
This is an old reported bug that was partially fixed in an update. You can read more about it here (click)
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New
JJsays...
Only my male dogs will learn to pee outside, not the females
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New
Alisays...
Hey dudes,, how do i let a pet out??
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Admin
Playalotsays...
You can walk your sim to a spot and call your pet to you. Or ask them to go potty. Or leash a dog and then walk outside.
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New
Beckiesays...
You can also buy a pet door from the build menu and they will go out on their own.
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New
R. I.says...
How do I tell if my cat is pregnant?? I mated her with a stray (I'm working on taking him into the household), and since then little love hearts pop up every once in a while, I'm assuming that means she's preggo but how do I tell how long until there are kittens?? Ps. Both are unfixed
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New
Aariasays...
My cat had her kittens in a day or two. I did get a pop up saying she was pregnant. I think the hearts mean they are in heat.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Love hearts radiating from a pets nose indicate that pet is on heat. You will get an in-game notification telling you your pet is pregnant after a bit of a wait. Also you will be unable to encourage your pet to mate again.
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New
la lasays...
SadSadSadSad! Help me, my pet will never go inside of the house i am living in and i put out the mats that is in the expansion pack. Please Help me!!!!!!UnsureUnsureUnsureUnsure
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New
Gg Ggsays...
Me too!!!!UnsureUnsureShockedShockedShockedShockedShockedShockedShockedShockedUnsureUnsureShockedShockedShockedShockedShockedShocked
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Not sure what mats you are referring to as mats have nothing to do with pets ability to walk or enter lots/houses.
If your pet is a puppy or kitten they can not climb stairs and you will need to direct your sim to pick them up and then walk into the house while carrying them by directing them to put the pet down on a spot somewhere inside the house.
Apart from that there is no in-game reason why a pet can not enter a house so check your mods or cc are not broken.
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New
T. A. Y.says...
Is Get To Work required to own a vet clinic or go work in one?
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Admin
Playalotsays...
No, all you need is the Cats and Dogs expansion.
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New
ZEEsays...
What’s the best way to create a dog training club with Get Together? I can’t add anything dog related to the club activities so it seems a bit pointless so far :/
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Admin
Playalotsays...
I don't think any pet activities were added to the club rules so I'm not sure how you would go about making a pet training club. Maybe by making a friendly social club at a dog park and hope that the sims interact with dogs? idk... I'm not sure it is possible.
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New
Paigesays...
my cat got stuck on the counter and it won’t let me pick him up. Help?
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Try walking your sim to another part of the house and then calling the pet to your sim from there.
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New
Losays...
Sometimes my pet shows a bunch of hearts over her head. What does that mean?
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Admin
Playalotsays...
It can mean that they are lonely and need petting, hugging etc or if the pet is a female that they are in heat.
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New
Jagsays...
Do you know can elder pet be pregnant? My pet just age up Crying
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Admin
Playalotsays...
No elder pets can not get pregnant. You can buy an Aging Down treat from an NPC's vet clinic to make them young again though.
Vet SkillVet Clinic
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New
Nyx Nocturnussays...
Will there be a section on breeding? I'm trying to breed my cats and I am uncertain if it has worked.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
There really isn't much to say about breeding. You encourage two pets to mate and then wait a while and if one pet is pregnant you'll get an in-game notification.
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Regular
rokstar714says...
What can I do if I live in an apartment. Where can my dog poop?
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New
paradiseplanetsays...
Outside the apartment complex of course! If they're a puppy you'll have to pick them up and set them down outside the complex manually.
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New
JamieMFsays...
Can a sim have more than one companion pet?
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Admin
Playlotsays...
Yes!
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New
Tweetsays...
Lately I have been gaining a relationship with a stray cat. Our friendship level is pretty high but I have not seen the invite to household option yet. Is this a bug? I have one sim and a dog in my household. Thanks!
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Admin
Playlotsays...
The option 'adopt' should appear as soon as your sim is a friend of the cat. Try looking under the 'friendly' social interactions.
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New
Lyanasays...
I add a ghost dog in my household but I don’t want it anymore. How can I let it go?
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Admin
Playlotsays...
Use Manage Households and either delete it or move in into another household.
Moving Sims
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New
confusedsimmersays...
I adopted a dog a while ago but I cant figure out how to get rid of the carrier the dog arrived in, ive tried deleting it in build mode and moving it in live mode but neither works.
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Admin
Playlotsays...
This is a known bug.Open EA Bug Report I'm not sure you can fix this problem once it occurs. Maybe try moving your sims out temporarily, bulldozing the house and then re-downloading it from your library and moving them back in.
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New
Wolfsays...
I have these two dogs that had a pup and it was her birthday but she didn't age up :/
its on ps3 sims 3 cats and dogs
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New
Marynasays...
Does anyone know how long it takes for a pet to come back as a ghost? My pet died and I've wanting to play around with ambrosia and age-down treats but I haven't seen a ghost yet. Granted it hasn't been very long; I'm kinda impatient Tongue
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Admin
Playlotsays...
Can take up to two sim weeks. Make sure your sim is actively on the lot between the hours of 6am and 11pm every night and it should happen.


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