In The Sims 3: Pets expansion, your Sims can adopt not only animals from the shelter, but also stray pets they encounter in the world. Whether it’s a lonely cat wandering the yard or a stray dog sleeping on your porch, you can bring them into your home, if you play your cards right. Here’s how to adopt stray pets in The Sims 3.
How to Find Stray Pets
Stray animals will occasionally appear in your Sim’s neighborhood. They typically:
- Roam public lots or community parks
- Appear near your house randomly
- Show up in response to your Sim having a pet-loving trait or a large outdoor yard
Stray pets are usually labeled with their name and the word “Stray” above them, such as “Stray Cat” or “Stray Dog.”
You cannot summon strays directly (they appear randomly) but the more pet-friendly your lot and household is, the more likely you are to encounter one.
How to Befriend a Stray Pet in The Sims 3
Before you can adopt a stray, your Sim needs to build a strong relationship with the animal. Here’s how to do it:
- Use Friendly Interactions
- Pet, talk to, feed treats, and play with the stray.
- Let the animal sniff your Sim to build trust.
- Be Consistent
Strays may not stick around long, so spend time with them whenever they appear. Once a relationship is built, they’ll begin showing up more frequently. - Reach a High Relationship Level
When your Sim’s relationship with the stray reaches the “Best Friend” status, the “Adopt” interaction will appear. - Adopt the Stray
Click the stray pet and select “Adopt” when the option becomes available. Your Sim will kneel down and officially welcome the pet into the household.
Note: Your household must have space for an additional pet, or the option won’t show up.
Bonus Tips
- Use the Animal Lover trait to build relationships faster.
- If you have the Lifetime Reward “Animal Expert”, it becomes easier to adopt pets.
Adopting strays in The Sims 3 adds heartwarming spontaneity to gameplay. With a bit of patience and affection, your Sim can turn a stray into a lifelong furry friend.