More Awesome Than You!

This is my first time playing with pets. I have two cats, both of whom are friendly, but they're constantly having negative interactions with each other, so I can't get their relationship score high enough to breed. I read that the Sims can scold pets for not getting along and praise them for getting along, but it seems these options are never available to me. I also read that if they only have one place to sleep (bed/house), they will be forced to cuddle together, but I find that only one sleeps at a time this way and the other just waits their turn. Any suggestions on how I can get them to like each other better?

Thanks so much - I really appreciate it!

lesspetwarfare? Did I ever release that? If it's not in the Director's Cut, ask Fat Gwilly People.

   Have your sim direct them to interact, once they've done the interaction, IMMEDIATELY praise/scold depending on the outcome.  The praising/scolding window of opportunity is quite short.  Having the pets confined in a smaller space, so they can't wander off, also helps.
   

Also, no, two pets can't sleep in the same bed/house.  The only time two pets can share a house is if they are trying for puppies/kittens.  And you should make sure that each pet has a its own food bowl and probably toys too to avoid conflicts.  One strategy I've seen is to lock them in a room together w/ 2 beds and 2 dishes but no toys so that when their fun motive gets low they will be forced to play with each other.

*facepalm* I knew it seemed like something you'd have a hack for, and I searched, I really did! Thanks, J.M., I found it and will give it a try. (Now if only I didn't have to work in the morning. Gah.)


Hmmm, I don't seem to have that option available to me when I click on the cat. (Unless I'm more blonde than I thought and that option is really somewhere else. Sorry. It's late.) Thanks for your help!


Hahah, okay, I guess I'll have to buy back that second bed! Thanks for letting me know, and that's a good idea about locking them in together. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!

   I'm going from guesswork here, (played with Pets in Castaways, no Pets EP), do pets need to show you as a member of the Pack for some interactions to show up?

Scold for hostility towards others. There's only a short window of time that you can do this. I don't believe your Sims have to be in their pack or anything at all, really. After all, you can scold random wolfs and most certainly strays, IRRC.

If you're still having problems, I might screenshot the correct option for you next time I'm in game.

To direct pets to play with someone else, they have to be maxed on the playful learned trait. That's maxed as Kazzandra explained: by praising for playfulness and scolding for hostility.

Yes, you did - it's in your folder in my game.

Oh wait, Ninja'd.

Thanks for all your help, guys - I really appreciate it. :)

I have this mod Animal Incest Mod (http://www.insimenator.net/showthread.php?t=33793) that enables related animals to breed and breed animals without any relationship :) i hope this helps 

Hahaha, animal incest, that's hilarious! I'm trying to use minimal cheats this time around, but when I return to my cheating old ways (which I'm sure I will) I'll definitely use that. Thanks!

Another thing to make sure of is that the person who asks the two pets to try for spawn has a high relationship with both pets. Otherwise the animals will just refuse.

If you're having trouble because the praise/scold time is too short and don't want to interrupt your sims, you can queue it up.  When the ability is up, queue it a bunch of times instead of just once and you can let your sim finish whatever they're doing and they'll still go praise/scold (if you have enough of them) as the pet will wait for the interaction to complete. Usually the extras will drop out of the queue but every once in awhile you'll get 2 or more from the same original action which doesn't hurt. You do have to make sure you notice the option still.