Can You Have Dogs, Cats or Other Pets in The Sims 4 Without Expansion Packs?
As an avid Sims player and fan site writer with over 1000 hours of gameplay under my belt, I get asked this question a lot – so let‘s settle it here. No, you cannot fully own and control dogs, cats or other common household pets in the base Sims 4 game without purchasing the Cats & Dogs expansion pack.
However, that doesn‘t mean you can‘t still enjoy some pet companionship! Here are a few legitimate ways to get animals in your Sims‘ lives without extra expense. Then I‘ll also cover some unofficial methods that bending the rules a bit more.
Official Options for Pets Without Expansions
Fish Tanks
The base Sims 4 comes equipped to fill your home with lovely aquariums and school of fish. You can head to Build Mode and find the fish tanks under the Plumbing section. Prices range from §20 for a simple goldfish bowl to up to §1200 for an elaborate piranha tank!
Once placed, click on the tank to stock it with your fish of choice. Basic options like angel fish and guppies run just §5-§20 each. If you‘ve got the bucks to spare, spring for more exotic species like the shining §1000 dragon fish!
Pros: Affordable, low maintenance pets that fit small spaces
Cons: Can‘t play or build relationships with fish like other animals
Small Pets
The Sims 4: My First Pet Stuff pack introduces mini pet habitats perfect for a hampster, rat, hedgehog or tiny cow. These are great starter pets for kids‘ rooms before they beg you for a puppy!
Plan on §100-§250 for the habitat itself, then another §20 to actually adopt your new small friend. Make sure to regularly socialize, feed and clean up after them to keep them happy and healthy!
Pros: Cuter and more interactive than fish; good for teaching responsibility
Cons: Limited pet species; very short lifespans around 7-14 days
Unofficial Methods to Get Dogs & Cats Sans Expansions
Now, more enterprising Simmers have discovered some cough creative workarounds for getting furry friends without paying for that Cats & Dogs expansion…
Mods
The modding community has developed custom content that enables pet adoption and gameplay without needing the pack. Popular picks like Sims 4 Community Library, MC Command Center, and Auto PETS Family add pets to Create a Sim and auto-populate neighborhoods with strays to adopt.
However – fair warning – mods that generate significant new content can destablize your game. And using them disables Trophies/Achievements after enabling them.
But if you just wanna virtually cuddle some kittens, download away! Just be sure to remove mods before reporting any official bugs.
Pros: Free cats, dogs, rodents galore! Customize breeds and traits
Cons: High risk of game glitches, crashes and save file corruption
Visiting Other Sims‘ Pets
If you have The Sims 4: Get Together expansion that allows club gatherings, you can scout for Sim households that already own pets. Then hang out at their place and shower their furballs with affection!
While you can‘t take strays home or control pets in other families, it scratches having that interactive furry friend itch. This method keeps your game 100% vanilla with no mod risks too.
Pros: No mods required; scratch behind ears of pets you don‘t have to feed!
Cons: Purely social visits; can‘t adopt strays or buy your own pets
The Real Cost of Pet Ownership
Let‘s paws to run some numbers on what pet parents invest in The Sims…
| Pet | Purchase Cost | Lifespan | Vet Visits | Total 10 Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | §1,000 | 10-25 days | §800 annual | §15,000-$50,000 |
| Cat | §800 | 7-14 days | §800 annual | §10,000-$32,000 |
| Rodent | §20-$250 | 7-14 days | §400 annual | §3,000-$7,500 |
Yikes! No wonder some Simmers try sneaking around the Cats & Dogs paywall. At a glance, cats and dogs cost a minimum §10,000 over their short lifespans. And that‘s not factoring in pet beds, toys, meds and damages to the furniture!
That said, I‘ve easily spent over §100k on my precious fur family over my years playing The Sims. And I don‘t regret a penny – the unconditional love and slobbery kisses are priceless!
If you have the means, I still highly recommend treating yourself to the Cats & Dogs expansion. But hopefully the options above hold you over in the meantime. Let me know if you have any other Sims pet tips or questions!
