How to Age Up Your Pets in The Sims 4
How to Age Up Your Pets in The Sims 4
The Sims 4 provides players with a rich, life-simulation experience, allowing them to create and control virtual people, build homes, and establish careers. An expansion pack, The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs, brings the delightful addition of pets into the Sim’s world, enriching gameplay with furry friends that become part of the family. Like their human counterparts, pets in The Sims 4 go through life stages, from kittens and puppies to adults and eventually, elders. Aging up pets can be an essential part of the gameplay, enabling players to speed through the cute but demanding puppy or kitten phases or to quickly grow their animal breeding business. This article will guide you through the various methods of aging up your pets in The Sims 4, ensuring they smoothly transition through their life stages.
Via Birthday Cake
The most straightforward method to age up pets in The Sims 4 involves the use of a birthday cake. This method mirrors the procedure used for aging up human Sims and consists of a few simple steps. First, have one of your human Sims bake a cake by clicking on the oven and selecting from the available cake recipes. Once the cake is baked, click on it and select the Add Birthday Candles option, which will cost a small fee. After the candles have been added, click on the cake again, but this time, select the Help Blow Out Candles option. You will then be prompted to choose which pet you would like to age up. This method not only ages up your pet but also allows for a celebratory moment for your Sim family.
Using Age Up Treats
Another convenient and quick method to age up pets in The Sims 4 is by utilizing Age Up Treats. These special treats can be purchased directly from a Vet Clinic or made by Sims with a Cooking skill of level 1 or higher at a fridge or stove, granted they have the Cats & Dogs expansion pack. After obtaining an Age Up Treat, simply click on your pet and select the Give Age Up Treat option from the menu. Your pet will instantly transition to the next life stage, no birthday candles required. This option is particularly useful for players focusing on the animal breeding aspect of the game or for those who prefer a more straightforward approach to pet aging.
Through Cheats
For players who like to have complete control over their gameplay, using cheats to age up pets in The Sims 4 provides the ultimate flexibility. To use cheats, you first need to enable them by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C on your keyboard (for PC and Mac users) or holding down all four shoulder buttons on console (for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 users), then typing “testingcheats true” into the textbox that appears and pressing enter. After cheats are enabled, you can age up pets by typing in a specific command. To age a pet, you need to shift-click on the pet you want to age up and select the “Set Age” option, then choose the desired life stage. This method allows for immediate aging without the need for any items or special treats.
Letting Nature Take Its Course
Of course, players may also choose to let their pets age naturally over time, experiencing each phase of their pets’ lives as it comes. This method requires the least intervention but also means waiting for the game’s aging mechanic to transition pets through their life stages at its own pace. Natural aging in The Sims 4 can be a fulfilling experience, allowing players to form deeper bonds with their pets and making each stage of their lives more meaningful. If you prefer this method but find the aging process too slow or too fast, you can adjust the lifespan settings in the game options to better suit your gameplay style.
FAQs
Can you reverse a pet’s age in The Sims 4?
Yes, it’s possible to reverse a pet’s age in The Sims 4, either back to a younger life stage or to reset their age within the current life stage. The primary method to achieve this is by using Age Down Treats, which can be purchased at a Vet Clinic or made by Sims with a Cooking skill level of 1 or higher. These treats work similarly to the Age Up Treats but in reverse, allowing your pets to enjoy an extended lifespan or giving you more time with them in their adorable kitten or puppy form.
How long do pets live in The Sims 4?
The lifespan of pets in The Sims 4 varies depending on the game’s lifespan setting—short, normal, or long—and whether any age-extending methods are used, such as Age Down Treats. On the normal lifespan setting, dogs and cats typically live around 24 Sim days from birth to natural death. This duration allows for a balanced gameplay experience, offering enough time to bond with pets and witness their life stages without overwhelming the player’s Sim family management.
Can pets in The Sims 4 have offspring?
Pets in The Sims 4, specifically dogs and cats, can indeed have offspring, allowing players to breed their pets to get puppies or kittens. Breeding pets can be as simple as having two adult pets of opposite genders and a high enough relationship level. Players can then choose the Encourage to Mate option when interacting with one of the pets and select the partner. After a successful mating, the pregnant pet will go through a pregnancy phase, culminating in the birth of one or more offspring, depending on various factors including the breed and number of existing pets in the household.
Is there a limit to how many pets you can have in The Sims 4?
The Sims 4 imposes a household limit that includes both human Sims and pets, restricting the total to eight members. This means if you have four human Sims in your household, you can only add four pets. However, mods and certain in-game cheats may allow players to bypass this limit, enabling larger households than officially supported. Be aware that increasing your household size beyond the game’s intended limit can sometimes lead to performance issues or bugs.
How do you care for elder pets in The Sims 4?
Caring for elder pets in The Sims 4 involves ensuring their comfort and health as they age. Elder pets, much like elder Sims, have lower energy levels and may develop health issues more frequently. To keep them comfortable, ensure they have cozy bedding, easy access to food and water, and regular visits to the vet. Additionally, consider giving them Age Down Treats if you wish to extend their lifespan or enhance their quality of life in their elder years. Providing your aging pets with love and attention will also help maintain their happiness and health.
Are there any special items or features for pets in The Sims 4?
The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs expansion pack not only introduces pets into the game but also a variety of special items and features designed for them. These include pet-specific furniture like beds, toys, and feeding dishes, as well as a comprehensive veterinary clinic system where Sims can seek medical care for their pets or even run their own vet clinic. Additionally, the expansion pack offers a wide range of customization options for pets, including unique coats, breeds, and personality traits, allowing players to create their perfect companions.
Can pets in The Sims 4 get jobs or have careers?
While pets in The Sims 4 cannot have careers in the traditional sense, dogs can be trained to perform various tricks and behaviors that can indirectly earn income for the household, such as participating in Show Dog competitions if you have the appropriate mod. Cats, on the other hand, can hunt for objects outside the house, sometimes bringing back valuable items. Although these activities do not constitute careers for pets, they can add an enjoyable dimension to the gameplay and provide additional interactions between Sims and their pets.
Taking care of pets in The Sims 4 and guiding them through their life stages offers a rich, rewarding experience that mirrors the joys and challenges of pet ownership in real life. Whether you decide to age your pets up using birthday cakes, special treats, cheats, or simply let nature take its course, the companionship and love they provide your Sim family are undoubtedly worth every moment.