Can You Age Down a Pet in The Sims 4? Unlocking Pet Life’s Secrets!
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The burning question on every Simmer’s mind: Can you actually age down your beloved pets in The Sims 4? The short answer is, generally no, there isn’t a straightforward, universally applicable method to revert your pets to a younger life stage across all pet types. However, there are very limited workarounds for specific scenarios, especially when it comes to chickens (of all creatures!). Let’s dive into the details and explore what options are available, what’s confirmed to be true, and debunk some aging myths within the Sims 4 pet universe.
Understanding Pet Aging Mechanics in The Sims 4
Before we delve into the aging-down possibilities (or lack thereof), it’s crucial to grasp how pet aging works in The Sims 4. Unlike Sims, pets don’t have distinct teenage and adult stages. Instead, they progress from:
- Puppy/Kitten: The adorable, playful stage.
- Adult: The prime of their life, full of energy.
- Elder: The senior years, where they slow down and eventually pass away.
The duration of each stage depends on the lifespan setting you’ve chosen in your game options (short, normal, or long). Each pet can get an “Age-Up” treat from a vending machine located at the Vet Clinic. You can also turn off auto-aging entirely, making your pets stay in their current life stage forever.
The Chicken Exception: A Golden Treat Reversal
Here’s where things get interesting! If you’ve embraced the world of chickens with The Sims 4: Cottage Living expansion pack, there’s a peculiar workaround. If you feed an elder chicken either a Golden Treat or a Midnight Treat, a fascinating transformation occurs. While these treats are primarily designed to alter a chicken’s traits and appearance, a peculiar side effect is that part of the transformation is that the chicken will age down to its young adult stage.
This is a known glitch or quirk in the game’s programming. It’s not an intentional feature advertised by the developers, but it’s a well-documented trick among Simmers. Keep in mind that this only works on chickens, and no other pet type currently.
Why This Matters?
This “chicken aging” workaround is a testament to the unpredictable and sometimes hilarious nature of The Sims 4. It also emphasizes the importance of experimentation and community knowledge-sharing.
Debunking Age-Down Myths and Exploring Other Options
While a simple “age-down potion” for dogs and cats would be amazing, unfortunately, it’s not an option in the game. Here’s what doesn’t work and what alternatives you might consider:
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The Age-Up Treat is one-way: The Age-Up treat, purchased at the vet, only advances a pet to the next life stage. It can’t reverse the aging process.
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Potions of Youth won’t affect pets: These potions are designed for Sims only and have no effect on animal companions.
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Cheats are limited: While cheats can alter a Sim’s age, there aren’t specific cheats designed to directly manipulate a pet’s life stage without the chicken treat workaround.
So, what can you do if you regret aging up your pet too soon?
- Start a new game: If you’re truly attached to a specific life stage, starting a new game with the same pet breed and traits might be the best option. It’s drastic, but guarantees the result.
- Focus on prolonging their life: Utilize the Veterinarian skill to provide excellent care, ensuring your pet lives a happy and healthy life, maximizing their time in their current life stage. Keep their needs fulfilled, and give them lots of love and attention.
- Embrace the Elder stage: The Elder stage can be beautiful. Focus on providing a comfortable and loving environment for your senior pets, filled with gentle activities and lots of cuddles.
The Sims community is always finding new, innovative ways to play the game. It’s possible that future updates or mods might introduce more options for manipulating pet aging.
The Future of Pet Aging in The Sims 4
The Sims 4 is a constantly evolving game, and the developers at Maxis frequently introduce new features and updates. While there are no current indications that an official “age-down” mechanic for pets is in the works, the game has a history of surprising players. Keep an eye on official announcements and community forums for any potential changes.
For those interested in the broader implications of games and learning, the Games Learning Society ( GamesLearningSociety.org ) offers valuable insights into how games can be used for educational purposes and skill development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pet Aging in The Sims 4
Here are some frequently asked questions from Simmers.
1. Does turning off auto age affect pets in Sims 4?
Yes! Turning off auto-aging in the game settings will freeze your pets in their current life stage. They won’t age up naturally until you turn auto-aging back on or use an Age-Up treat.
2. Why isn’t my puppy aging up in Sims 4?
If auto-aging is enabled and your puppy still isn’t aging up, there may be an issue. You can either wait it out (sometimes it takes a bit longer than expected), or use an Age-Up treat purchased at the vet clinic. Player has to age the pet up manually in CAS.
3. How long does it take for Sims pets to age up?
The time it takes for pets to age up depends on your chosen lifespan setting:
- Short lifespan: Kittens age up in approximately 1.5 days, adults in about 12 days.
- Normal lifespan: Kittens take around 3 days, adults take around 24 days.
- Long lifespan: Kittens need around 12 days, adults around 96 days.
4. How do you age up pets in The Sims 4?
The most reliable way to age up pets is to visit a Vet Clinic and purchase an Age-Up Treat from the vending machine for 150 Simoleons. Feed the treat to your pet, and they’ll advance to the next life stage.
5. How do you age up an elder pet in Sims 4?
You can’t “age up” an elder pet in the sense of making them live longer. The Age-Up treat simply advances them to the next (final) stage of their lives. However, ensure their needs are met and they are happy to prolong their life.
6. How long does it take for dogs to age up in Sims 4?
On a normal lifespan, it takes about 24 days for an adult dog to become an elder. If they haven’t aged up by then, you can use an Age-Up treat.
7. How do you age down a SIM?
To age down a Sim (not a pet), you need to use cheats. Open the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C), enter testingcheats true, then cas.fulleditmode. After that, click on a mirror or wardrobe to enter Create-a-Sim (CAS), where you can change their age.
8. Why do pets run away in Sims 4?
Pets may run away if they’re neglected, have the Independent trait, or simply feel the urge to explore. They’ll eventually return, but ensure their needs are met to prevent this.
9. Is auto-aging fixed in Sims 4?
Yes, the auto-aging bug has been fixed. If you’re still experiencing issues, ensure your game is up-to-date.
10. How do you disable autonomy for a selected Sim or pet?
In the game options, you can disable autonomy for the selected Sim. This will prevent them from performing actions on their own.
11. Why is my chicken dirty in Sims 4?
Chicken coops can become dirty over time, especially with more chickens living in them. Clean the coop regularly to keep your chickens healthy and happy.
12. How do you cheat friendship with animals in Sims 4?
Shift-click on the animal and select “Cheat Relationship” > “Set Max Friendship” to instantly become best friends.
13. Can elders get pregnant in The Sims 4?
While technically the “Try for Baby” option exists for Elders, in practice, they cannot become pregnant.
14. Can elders adopt Sims?
Yes, Elder Sims can adopt children through the “Adopt a Child” option on their cell phone.
15. How long do pets live?
The average lifespan for dogs is 10-12 years, and for cats, it’s 10-14 years. In The Sims 4, this translates to different lengths depending on your lifespan setting.
Conclusion: The Pet Aging Puzzle
While the ability to truly age down pets in The Sims 4 is limited, understanding the aging mechanics and available options is key. Remember the special case of chickens with the Golden and Midnight treats, and focus on providing a fulfilling life for your pets, regardless of their age. Happy Simming!