Unleashed: Completing and Caring for Your Gear

The Sims: Unleashed was the groundbreaking expansion that allowed players to include their pets in the gameplay, making it possible to welcome furry companions of various breeds and sizes into their virtual homes.

Once you decide to adopt a pet in The Sims, it’s essential to be aware of the responsibilities involved. Owning a pet is a major commitment! You’ll need to acquire the necessary supplies from the game to keep your new furry friend happy and healthy, as well as develop strong bonds with them.

How to Get a Pet

Purchase One from Old Town

When The Sims first introduced pets, customization options were limited. Your best bet for acquiring a new pet in The Sims: Unleashed is to purchase one from Old Town, a neighborhood introduced in the Deluxe version of The Sims in 2025. This location provides all the essentials for pet care.

If you want to explore your options, you can “shop for” animals where the shopkeeper will give you a quick overview of the pets available for adoption.

While any store with the right displays can sell pets, Pet Paradise in Old Town is the most reliable spot. They offer everything you’ll need for your new companion, including the animals themselves. Keep your Sim’s lifestyle in mind when choosing a pet, as some will need more attention than others.

At Pet Paradise, you can either play with or adopt the cats and dogs available. The shop features:

• Small tank pets like turtles, iguanas, and goldfish. These require minimal interaction and specific tanks. They can be found at the shop entrance, and you’ll need to display them in your home after purchase.
• Birds, who need more care and can even help boost your Charisma skill. Lovebirds and budgies are for sale, while larger birds can be checked out back home via Buy mode.
• Cats and dogs, which are the most interactive pets, featuring a range of behaviors and relationship dynamics. They cost §399 each.

It’s worth noting that you cannot customize the appearance or view the personality traits of the pets when purchasing them at Pet Paradise; you’ll discover these characteristics once you bring them home.

Adopt Stray Animals

You might notice various strays walking by your home or hanging out at public areas. If you’ve been regularly interacting with a stray, you’ll eventually get the option to adopt it into your family.

To adopt a stray, you need to build a strong relationship with the animal on your lot. Keep interacting until you see the “Adopt” option appear in the social menu. It takes a fair bit of bonding to gain their trust before they’ll consider joining your household.

Breed Your Pets

This function is exclusive to cats and dogs. You can have two adult animals of the same species “snuggle” in hopes of having a litter. A popup will confirm if you want to have kittens or puppies, and if you agree, a tent will appear similar to cribs for newborns.

You won’t care for the newborns directly—it’s up to the mother to look after them during their first few days. Keep her happy, as well-cared-for pets will check on their young. If the mother is unhappy, she may neglect her litter.

Once three in-game days pass and the kittens or puppies grow up, you’ll decide whether to keep or sell them. Selling can earn you money based on the parents’ skills, or you can add the young pets to your family right away.

What Care Do Pets Require?

Cats and Dogs

Unlike their smaller counterparts, cats and dogs require more attention, especially dogs. You’ll need to provide food and water bowls, a bed, and toys for your pets, as they have similar needs to your Sims. They must eat, sleep, and relieve themselves regularly, so ensure their bowls are full and their beds comfortable.

Socializing with your cats and dogs is essential, and you’ll see them interact with each other quite often. Happy cats will hunt pests around your lot, while dogs might fetch the newspaper or guard against pesky raccoons in the trash.

Since there are no cages for larger pets, you need to house-train them to prevent messes in your home. Provide a litter box for cats, and take dogs outside regularly. Praise them when they go outside to relieve themselves.

Small Animals

Smaller pets are considerably easier to care for than their larger counterparts in The Sims. As long as you buy the appropriate cage for each type of animal, you can easily adopt them from Pet Paradise and place them in their tanks at home. Check on them periodically to feed and clean their environment.

You can find supplies for your pets in the Miscellaneous section of the Buy mode. However, small pets have limited social interaction; while you can engage them in play or conversation, they aren’t nearly as interactive as cats and dogs.