The Sims 3: Pets adds plenty of new interactions so you can play with, care for, and love your pet. You have options for training and reinforcing behavior as well. Find more information on using these socials in the specific animal chapters. The following chart lists all the new socials.
| Social Name | Actor | Target | Trait Reinforcement | Interaction | Benefits | Trait Influences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affection… Brush | CTYAE Sims | Cat, Dog | None | Sim brushes dog or cat. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Hygiene, Brushed moodlet, Loved moodlet. Cat hairball counter resets. | None |
| Affection… Brush | CTYAE Sims | Horses, Foals | Obedient/Ornery | Sim brushes horse. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Hygiene, Loved moodlet. | None |
| Affection… Feed Treat | CTYAE Sims | Pets | Piggy/Neat | Sim pulls out a treat for the pet. Not available on mounted horses. | Adds Fun for Sim, LTR, and Hunger for pet. | Piggy pets eat sloppily, and have chance to hack or become Nauseous from eating too fast. |
| Affection… Hug | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens | None | Sim picks up small pet and hugs near face. Large dogs and horses are hugged on the ground. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Loved moodlet. | Proud, Independent, or Neat cats may Groom Self afterward. |
| Affection… Hug | CTYAE Sims | Horses, Foals | Obedient/Ornery | Mounted Sim learns forward and hugs horses neck. Unmounted Sim hugs horses neck. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Loved moodlet. | |
| Affection… Pet | CTYAE Sims | Pets | None | Sim pets horse on neck (shoulder if mounted), pets or scratches dog or cat’s head. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Loved moodlet. | None |
| Affection… Rub Belly | CTYAE Sims | Dogs | None | Sim bends down and rubs dog’s belly. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Loved moodlet. | Hyper dogs have higher chance of leg twitch; Lazy dogs have lower. |
| Affection… Smoochie | CTYAE Sims | Puppies, Kittens, Small Dogs, Cats | None | Sim picks up small pet and kisses on nose. Pet licks Sim’s face. | Adds Social, LTR. Pet gains Loved moodlet. | None |
| Bark At | Dogs | CTYAE Sims, Pets | Noisy/Quiet | Dog approaches Target and barks. | Target may respond positively or negatively. | Hyper dogs do this more often, Lazy dogs almost never. |
| Beg/Be Begged | Cats, Dogs | CTYAE Sims | Piggy/Neat | Hungry, Very Hungry, or Starving pets with no food available whimper/whine/yowl with thought balloon of food. | Sim will feed pet. | Piggy pets can do this at any time regardless of hunger level. |
| Beg for Harvestable | Horses | CTYAE Sims | Piggy/Neat | Horse noses Sim and nickers, with thought balloon of carrots. Not available while mounted. | Sim will feed pet. | Piggy horses are more likely to beg. |
| Call Pet | CTYAE Sims | Pets | None | Sim calls pet. | Similar to Call Over interaction between Sims. | Lazy and Shy pets take longer to respond. Clueless pets may run past Sim. |
| Calm Down | CTYAE Sims | Horses, Foals | Brave/Nervous | Mounted or unmounted Sim soothes the Panicked! or Spooked! horse. | Removes Panicked or Spooked moodlets. Adds LTR. | Nervous horses are more likely to have the Panicked! or Spooked! moodlets. |
| Chase Mailman | Dogs | NPC Mail Carrier | Aggressive/Friendly | Dog chases Mail Carrier, who panics and runs off the lot, with mail flying. | Adds Fun, reduces Energy for dog. Lowers LTR with Mail Carrier. | Aggressive dogs are more likely to chase. |
| Clean Hooves | CTYAE Sims | Horses | Neat/Piggy | Sim cleans horse’s hooves. Cannot repeat while moodlet is active. | Horse gains positive Hygienic Hooves moodlet. | None |
| Dismount | Mounted Sim | Horses | None | Sim dismounts from horse. | Ends riding pose. | Sim Riding skill level determines whether the dismount is skilled, amateur, or near failure. |
| Feed… | CTYAE Sims | Horses | None | Not available while mounted or with no harvestable or gourmet pet food in inventory. Sim selects harvestable/pet food from picker and feeds to horse. | Adds Social, LTR. Fulfills Hunger for horse. | Piggy horses always accept, regardless of hunger level. |
| Go for Walk to… | CTYAE Sims | Dogs | None | Sim leashes dog and chooses a valid destination from a window. Pet and Sim walk to destination, with dog sniffing and possibly peeing along the way. | Adds Social, LTR | None |
| Groom | Cats | Cats, Kittens | Neat/Piggy | Cat licks and grooms other cat or kitten. Actor cat has chance of hairball. | Adds Social, LTR, Hygiene. | None |
| Groom | Horses | Horses | Neat/Piggy | Horses gently nibble each others’ head and neck. | Adds Social, LTR, Hygiene. | None |
| Growl At | Dogs | CTYAE Sims, Pets | Aggressive/Friendly | Dog approaches Target and growls. | Target may respond positively or negatively. | Aggressive dogs do this more often; Friendly dogs almost never. |
| Hiss At | Cats | CTYAE Sims, Pets | Aggressive/Friendly | Cat approaches Target and hisses. | Target may respond positively or negatively. Lowers LTR. | None |
| Horseplay | Horses, Foals | Horses, Foals | None | Horse frolic together. Not available while mounted. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. | None |
| Kick | Horses | TYAE Sims | Ornery/Obedient | Horse turns and boots Sim in the chest, knocking him flat. | Ornery horses add Fun. Target Sim loses Fun. Lowers LTR. Sim gets the negative Kicked moodlet. | Ornery horses do this autonomously and regardless of mood. Lazy and Obedient horse never kick. |
| Lick | Dogs | PCTYAE Sims | Friendly/Aggressive | Dog licks Sim. | Add Social, LTR, Fun (for pet), Hygiene (for Sim) | Piggy pets give slobbery kisses. |
| Mean… Chase | Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies | CTYAE Sims, Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies | Aggressive/Friendly | Dog or cat chases Target. | Lowers Energy and LTR. | Aggressive dogs and cats do this more often; Shy, Skittish, and Friendly dogs and cats do it less often. |
| Mean… Fight | Cats, Dogs | Cats, Dogs | Aggressive/Friendly | Pets enter fight cloud and one emerges victorious. Outcome depends on Hunting skill (+), Hunter (+), Aggressive (+), Friendly (-), Scaredy-Cat (-). | Adds Scratch (for cats), lowers LTR and Energy. | Friendly and Scaredy Cat pets will not initiate. |
| Mean… Pounce | Cat, Kitten | Cat | Hunting | Cat stalks and pounces on other cat. Ends in fight. | Lowers Fun, LTR, Energy; adds Hunting skill. | |
| Mount | TYAE Sims | Horses | Obedient/Ornery | Not available on foals or ridden, led, or pregnant horses. Allowed on non-household horse with permission. Sim mounts horse. | Initiates riding pose. Adds LTR. | Sim’s Riding skill determines whether the result is skilled, amateur, or near failure. |
| Nuzzle | Pets | CTYAE Sims, Pets* | Friendly/Aggressive | Pet nuzzles affectionately | Adds Social and strongly adds LTR. | None |
| Pick Up | CTYAE Sims | Kittens, Puppies, Cats, Small Dogs | None | Sim picks up pet and carries it around. Can do various interactions while holding pet. | Adds LTR. | None |
| Play | Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies | Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies | Playful | Pets play with each other. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. | None |
| Play with Me | Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies | CTYAE Sims | Playful | This initiates other socials, or indicates that the pet wants attention. | None | None |
| Play… Chase | Cats, Kittens, Dogs, Puppies | CTYAE Sims, Cats, Kittens, Dogs, Puppies | Hyper/Lazy | Pets and Sims chase each other around. Sims laugh. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. | Hyper pets do this more often. Lazy pets never initiate and always refuse it. |
| Play… Chase | Horses | Horses, Foals | None | Horses chase each other around. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. | Lazy horses never initiate and always refuse it. |
| Play… Fetch | CTYAE Sims | Dogs | None | Sim waves a stick, throws it, dog fetches. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. Loses Energy. | Intelligent and Aggressive dogs sometimes jump and catch the stick in their mouth. Hyper pets do this more often; Lazy pets don’t initiate and may wander away during. |
| Play… Have Fun | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats | None | Sim pulls out squeaky toy (dogs) or laser pointer (cats) and plays with pet. Other Sims may watch. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. | None |
| Play… Tug of War | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Puppies | None | Sim produces rope toy and dog grabs in mouth, yanking and tugging. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR. Loses Energy. | Hyper pets do this more often. Lazy pets never initiate it. |
| Play… Pounce | Cat, Kitten | Cat | Hunting | Cat stalks and pounces on other cat. Ends in play. | Adds Social, Fun, LTR, and Hunting skill. Loses Energy. | None |
| Praise | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats, Horses | All | Sim praises pet for desired behavior. | Positively reinforces behavior. Adds LTR, pet gains Praised moodlet. | None |
| Romance… Try for Kittens | Cat | Cat | None | Cats must be opposite gender, certain LTR, and not related. Requires pet house. Chance of pregnancy. Never autonomous. | Strongly adds Fun and Social. Loses energy. | None |
| Romance… Try for Puppies | Dog | Dog | None | Dogs must be opposite gender, certain LTR, and not related. Requires pet house. Chance of pregnancy. Never autonomous. | Strongly adds Fun and Social. Loses energy. | None |
| Romance… Try for Foal | Horse | Horse | None | Horses must be opposite gender, certain LTR, and not related. Requires box stall. Chance of pregnancy. Never autonomous. | Strongly adds Fun and Social. Loses energy. | |
| Scold | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats, Horses | All | Sim scolds pet for undesired behavior. | Negatively reinforces behavior. Pet gains Scolded moodlet. | None |
| Shoo Off | CTYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats | Adventurous/Skittish | Sim shoos pet off surface. | None | Mean, Evil, and Grumpy Sims are more likely to do this. |
| Sniff | Pets | CTYAE Sims, Pets | None | Pet sniffs other pet or Sim. | Pets above LTR threshold will react positively. Adds Social and LTR. | None |
| Socialize | Pets | Pets | Friendly/Aggressive | Pets approach each other and make social noises. | Adds Social, LTR. | None |
| Stamp At | Horses | CTYAE Sims, Pets | Aggressive/Friendly | Horse approaches Target and snorts and stamps at. | Lowers LTR. | Brave or Equestrian Sims more likely to scold; Coward Sims more likely to cower. Aggressive pets more likely to growl, hiss, or stamp; Friendly pets more likely to cower. |
| Tackle | Kitten, Puppy, Cat, Small Dog | CTYAE Sims | Aggressive/Friendly | Pet runs and jumps at Sim. | Seriously fun for pets. | Lazy pets will not do this. Hyper, Aggressive, Playful, and Hunter pets are more likely to do this; Friendly and Shy pets less likely. |
| Talk To | CTYAE Sims | Pets | None | Sim makes baby talk at pet. | Adds Social, LTR, Fun (for Sim). | Noisy pets are more likely to vocalize back; Quiet pets are less likely. |
| Throw Scrap | TYAE Sims | Dogs, Cats, Kittens, Puppies | None | While cooking, Sim throws scrap of food to watching pet. | Adds LTR. Fulfills Hunger (pet) ???? | None |
| Watch Cooking | Dogs, Cats, Kittens, Puppies | TYAE Sims | Piggy/Neat | Pet watches Sim cooking, begs for food. | Adds LTR. | Piggy more likely????? |
| Whisper to… | TYAE Sims | Foal, Horse | None | Sim gently approaches horse, and speaks softly while stroking horse’s face. | Adds Social, strongly adds LTR. | Requires Sim Riding skill 10 |
Pets will only nuzzle their own babies. For example, a horse will nuzzle a foal, but not a puppy or kitten, and a cat will nuzzle a kitten but not a puppy or foal.