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Sim4Lorn's avatar
Sim4Lorn
Rising Traveler
5 months ago

Needy Pets

I assume this isn't a bug but more of a design flaw - so this seems the most relevant category in which to post. Has anyone else noticed how overly-needy pets are in the game? I'm specifically talking about cats and dogs. Even the ones with traits that should make them chill - like aloof and lazy and such. I can spend literally the whole day - 8+ hours - walking or training my pet, playing with, brushing, pampering, bathing, talking to, giving treats... and the instant my sim stops to feed themselves or bathe or do anything not pet-centric; suddenly my pet is depressed and mopes about and I get the notification that they are considering running away from neglect... WTF? What the actual F? I feel like pet AI should be refreshed/redesigned/touched up - whatever. Pets should not be this narcissistic. They should be at least slightly better at self-soothing and entertaining themselves. They should not require absolutely endless owner interaction. This is especially true with multiple pets - why are they not better at playing together or snuggling together - or just focusing more on each other and less constantly focusing on the human sims. While we're at it - could they actually be trained to use their pet beds? Not only are those things ugly and flat - they serve no purpose as no pets ever sleep on them. They will always choose human furniture instead. And can you blame them? When given the choice to nap on a piece of cardboard on the floor or a fluffy, comfy couch - there is no choice at all. While we are refreshing - new pet toys please. Perhaps part of the reason they are bored is because their only toys are balls and squeakers. How about plushies for pets? Chew ropes and rings? Rubber bones for dogs. How about wind-up mice toys for cats to chase? Also, as part of their AI refresh, might be nice to see them programed to occasionally do weird and random things... as animals do. But "random", "sporadic", and "occasional" seem to be foreign concepts in the world of sims; as most everything the AI does is in infuriatingly predictable and repetitive patterns. A cat couldn't do a backflip off the couch once in a blue moon. It would wind up doing the backflip 12 times a day every time it came near the couch. 

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  • lauraspencer's avatar
    lauraspencer
    Newcomer
    2 months ago

    "Needy Pets" could refer to pets in need of special care or attention, whether due to health issues, abandonment, or other circumstances. buy protection dog Many shelters and animal rescue organizations focus on helping needy pets by providing medical care, food, and a safe environment.

  • Miataplay's avatar
    Miataplay
    Seasoned Ace
    2 months ago

    Yes. Pets have always been needy in this game for me yet I still love them and the fact that you can't play them is annoying.

  • Frn0731's avatar
    Frn0731
    New Vanguard
    2 months ago

    I agree with you 100% . It drives me batty.  The pets should able to amuse themselves especially when there are multiples. And while we are at it, why can't the pets run along when my sims go jogging or biking or hiking? Can dogs swim? I never tried that. Why does it always have to be about them? And why can't the cats catch mice in City Living? 

    This is the reason I rarely have pets in my game. After a while they just run away , well good bye and good luck, try to find an owner who will spend hours on end amusing you.

  • vyvexthorne's avatar
    vyvexthorne
    Seasoned Novice
    2 months ago

    They really are. If you use cheats so you can take control of your pets, their "Attention" and "Play" meter fall extremely quickly.  For cats, "Pet," "Pamper on Couch" and "Feel the Love," seem to be the only actions that completely fill up the "attention" meter. All other actions like "hug" or "brush" only fill it up half way.  They need to be pet about three times a day. They will eventually take care of the "play" meter on their own, but they usually wait until it's red to do so. 

    The odd thing is, your sim will stop in the middle of doing actions (like painting or cooking) to go pet or play with the pet, but the pet isn't always the one initiating it. Most of the time, when your sim stops in the middle of doing a task, it's your sim initiating it. I have no idea why. 

    My current build has a horseshoe pit and whenever my sim autonomously picks up the cat, they also autonomously choose to go play horseshoes. It's the silliest thing. They'll pick up the cat, carry it to the horseshoe pit, put the cat down, throw one or two horseshoes and then stop and sort of stand there like "how did I get here?"  Maybe they were hoping to throw the cat. 

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