One of the most highly anticipated expansion packs for The Sims 4 on PC has finally made it’s way over to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. If you are a long time Sims player then you know how much fun having pets is in your game and this is no different.
If you are new to The Sims 4 on consoles you can check out our Getting Started in The Sims 4 Console article here.
What’s new with The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs?
- Explore the beautiful new world of Brindleton Bay (or as we like to call it, Brindleton Bae).
- Let your imagination run wild in Create A Pet and create your own unique Cats & Dogs.
- The new Veterinarian skill will help your Sims to learn everything they need to know to help Cats & Dogs who are sick.
- Run and own your own Vet Clinic.
- Get your Sims to train your pets and improve their Pet training skills.
- And of course, there is so much more to discover!
Create A Pet
Create A Pet is similar to Create A Sim but not at the same time. The new features in Create A Pet give you the freedom create the Cat or Dog you’ve always wanted. Also if you really want you can have a Fox or Racoon as a pet. Simply head to the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and go to add a Sim. Click on the paw print and then choose the option you want from there.
You can customize almost every aspect of your Cat or Dog from eyes, nose, ears to fur length, the colour of their fur and even their outfits. You can even mix breeds together using the Breed Mixer to get some interesting results. Also, you can paint your pet’s fur. You can keep it simple or make your Cat or Dog look like another animal or even a Pokemon if you wish. Also, like in Create A Sim you can fine-tune and manipulate your Cat or Dog to look just how you want them to be.
Traits! There are plenty of new Cats & Dogs specific traits that will help shape your pet’s personality. You can mix and match the traits to create your perfect companion.
We have a full step by step guide on the basics of creating your perfect Cat or Dog companion which can be found here. That’s not all we also have an overview video on our YouTube channel of all the different breeds that can be found in the game which you can find here. Also an overview of all the pawsome outfits your Cats or Dogs can wear that you can find here.
Create A Sim
As with any new pack for The Sims 4 on console, you will be seeing lots of brand new items in Create A Sim for Sims of all ages. New hairs, new traits and new clothing. Is your Sim a Cat lover? You can give them cat ears and wear items of clothing with cat patterns over it. Does your Sim love taking photos of Cats & Dogs and then posting them on Simstagram? No problem there’s an outfit for that too!
With a new expansion comes new aspirations for your Sims and The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs is no exception. Friends of the Animals is the new addition and by choosing this aspiration your Sim will get the bonus trait of having a higher relationship value with animals to start with. If you complete the aspiration you will earn the Animal Whisperer trait which allows you to train and discipline animals more easily and also build relationship quicker.
That’s not all! Your Sims can choose from having either the Cat Lover or Dog Lover trait as well or if you really want have both!
Brindleton Bay
Brindleton Bay is the beautiful brand new world that comes with The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack. Packed full of lovely neighbourhoods and gorgeous views Brindleton Bay is perfect for exploring with your companion.
The new world is broken down into a few smaller neighbourhoods each with its own tail to tail (see what we did there?) You have three neighbourhoods in which your Sims can live with their Cats & Dogs and one Feature Lot which you can explore.
The new neighbourhoods that we have our Sable Square, Whiskerman’s Wharf, Cavalier Cove and the mysterious Deadgrass Isle. Check out our interactive map to find out more about Brindleton Bay here.
Buying Vet Clinics & The New Veterinarian Skill
The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs adds the brand new Veterinarian skill that your Sims level up. This goes perfectly in hand with your Sims now being able to run and own your own Vet Clinic. If you have played The Sims 4 Dine Out Game Pack on either console or PC it will be similar to owning your own restaurant. Hire staff, treat patients, improve your Sims skills and knowledge, earn perk points and hit that five-star Vet clinic rating!
Getting started is easy. Simply head to the bottom right-hand corner of the user interface and find the cash register icon. Simply click on it and it should give you an option to buy a Vet Clinic. You will then be taken to the world menu where you can then select the world and location of the Vet Clinic you wish to buy. There is a pre-made Vet Clinic in Brindleton Bay already that you can buy or you can create your own in any other world.
You can check out the replay of The Sims 4 Cat & Dogs live stream from the PC launch where the SimGurus went into detail about the Vet Clinic gameplay by clicking here.
Adopting Pets
Of course, if you want to continue playing your existing family in The Sims but want them to also have a Cat or Dog you can simply adopt a Cat or Dog the from your Sims phone or computer. It costs two hundred Simoleans to do so and then you will have a visit from the adoption agency where your Sim(s) can interact with the Cat or Dog and see how your Sims get on. If you want to adopt them then you can do so there and then or if you don’t think they are the right pet you can change your mind and choose a different pet instead.
Pet Training
Improve your Cats or Dogs skills and discplines by getting your Sims to train them. Whether it is teaching them to sit, roll over or go to the bathroom outside or even running one of the training courses at home or travel to one pre-made in the world like Pupperstone Park.
You can also check out the full in depth guide we made all about the Pet Training Skill here.
Build Buy Mode
Likewise, with Create A Sim Build/Buy mode has lots of exciting new objects for us to use in our lots. in fact there are over 200 new build mode objects added with this expansion pack. These range from Vet Clinic objects to toys and beds for your pets. Wall decorations and a laser destroying litter box for cats.
You can check out the full overview of Buy Mode objects here.
Lot traits
In Build/Buy Mode you will also notice that you will be able to add some Cats & Dogs themed Lot traits as well. There is a total of six new lot traits which range from Cat and Dog Hangout, Breeding Ground, Training Ground and also Cat & Dog-Friendly.
That’s it for our Getting Started article for The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Don’t forget you can find out more about The Sims 4 on console by visiting our dedicated section on our site here and also our Cats & Dogs section which you can find here! Also, let us know what you think of The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs finally being playable on consoles!
