Sims 4 Cats and Dogs

Sims 4: Cats & Dogs is an expansion pack for the ever popular game, The Sims 4. The expansion pack adds the joy of pet ownership to the game, along with many of the same intricacies as with real pets. It also has a few features that make virtual pet ownership even more fun.

The game starts out by letting you choose from hundreds of different breeds of dogs and cats, as well as the option to hand paint your pet with the designs of your choice. If you’re not much of an artist but still want custom markings, you can change it up by using stencils to help make your markings look just right. This feature alone is enough to spend hours of your time, but of course, there’s more to pet ownership in The Sims than painting your pup.

Welcome to Brindleton Bay

The expansion adds a new neighborhood to the Sims world, “Brindleton Bay.” This neighborhood is pet central, with plenty of opportunities for your Sims to interact with their pets. The new neighborhood has dog parks to take your pet to, a new career option for your sims (veterinarian) and allows you to interact with your pet in different ways. Pets can’t be micromanaged like Sims can, but they do respond as a typical pet might to basic care. This leads to a minor problem in game play. Although pets have needs much like real pets, the only way to find out what the pet needs is essentially to go up and ask it.

Without a clear need bar, it can quickly become tedious to follow the pet around and attempt to balance care. Other minor glitches that sometimes occur in the game including dogs with a strong “fear” personality being afraid of absolutely everything in the home, and animals panicking in the vet and never calming down.

Other features

The new veterinarian job also gives your sims new things to do. The new career allows you to match up the right medicine for sick pets, provide surgeries to pets through a “surgery machine” and other fun mini games.

If you already have the Back to Work expansion, you may not find this as spectacular as some of the other career options, but if you don’t, you’ll be delighted by operating the vet clinic. The new expansion also adds thousands of new items to the game, making it one of the most valuable expansions available.

Pros:

• Lots of new items added
• Very detailed pet editor
• Plenty of game play options

Cons:

• No need bars

Enrich the life of your virtual home by adding a furry friend with The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs! This essential expansion for the popular life-simulation game brings the joy of owning a pet to the life of your Sim. While the game was good enough on its own, The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs adds a lot of new gameplay content. Bonding with your ideal pet is just the start of the exciting new things you can do with this expansion. In The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs, you'll explore a new neighborhood, craft your own companion, and even take up a new job! For all the pet lovers out there, this is one expansion you won't want to miss.

Main Game Features

• Create and foster customizable cats and dogs
• Explore the new Brindletown Bay area
• Visit the pet clinic and start your career as a vet

Story

The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs continues your personal story, where you get to build and expand on your own house and guide your Sim character through their virtual life. In this expansion, players can now move or visit Brindleton Bay, a joyful seaside town with many activities to enjoy. Brindleton Bay is definitely one of the most idyllic areas to be added to The Sims 4, so chill players will find it to be very suitable for rest and relaxation. You can also build out Brindleton Bay with extra houses and families, as the area has 16 lots for you to fill with Sims and their pets.

The big story addition in The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs can be found in the new vet clinic building, which players can visit when their pet is in need of medical attention. If you build up the correct stats, you can also own and manage a pet clinic of your own. While running the pet clinic, you'll need to manage various research projects, buy medicine, and much more. However, work can sometimes grow repetitive, so it's a good idea to kick back with your new pet!

Gameplay

Of course, the main new feature in The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs is the inclusion of pets, which you can fully customize to your heart's content. When you decide to bring a pet into your virtual life, you are sent to a create-a-pet screen, where you can choose from an abundance of adorable kittens and puppies. If none of the premade pets are to your liking, you can even create your own breed, ensuring that you'll get the exact pet you want. Pets, just like your Sims, require attention and patience, as you'll need to care for them throughout your daily routine. This occasionally means bringing them to the vet, taking them on walks, and more. There are more than enough fun activities to engage in around Brindleton Bay, including beach fronts, dog parks, and more. Just like in real life, your pets can cause havoc and do some pretty unexpected things. Pets all have inherent traits that affect how they interact with your Sim and the virtual world. However, you can adjust these traits by training your pet, bonding with them, and changing your living conditions. Creating a custom puppy or kitten isn't the only option you have, as players can also adopt stray pets, care for elderly pets, and more. Pets can also become stressed too, so it's important to treat your animal friends with equal care.

Conclusion

The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs is a great expansion that fills in some highly requested features. Everything you could want from the new pet system is available, including customizable breeds, adopting strays, meaningful interactions, and exciting animal personalities.

Pros

• Pets are adorable and fully customizable
• Each dog and cat feels different
• Lots of ways to interact with your companion
• New career paths and buildings add more gameplay
• Brindleton Bay is one of the best areas in the game

Cons

• The vet clinic career can become boring
• No exotic pets or reptiles
• Only a few new decorations and house items