What Does Petting Your Pet Do in Stardew Valley?
In the charming world of Stardew Valley, building relationships isn’t limited to the townsfolk – your furry (or scaly!) companions also thrive on affection. The simple act of petting your cat or dog goes beyond a cute interaction; it’s a vital mechanic for fostering a strong bond and achieving key milestones in the game. Directly, petting your pet increases their friendship level, contributing to your overall progress and potential rewards. But how exactly does it work, and what are the benefits? Let’s dive into the details.
The Mechanics of Petting and Friendship
How to Pet Your Pet
Petting in Stardew Valley is a straightforward action. Each day, you can click on your pet – be it the cat that lounges around your house or the dog that patrols your farm – to give it a little affection. This is a daily interaction, and only one pet per day per pet counts. You’ll know you’ve done it correctly when a heart appears above your pet.
Friendship Points and Levels
The core benefit of petting is the gain in friendship points. Each successful petting session awards your pet 12 friendship points. These points accumulate towards your pet’s overall friendship level. The maximum friendship a pet can have is 1000 points. Every 200 friendship points equate to one level of friendship. Hence, a pet with 1000 friendship points will be at level 5, or 5 hearts.
The 1000 Point Milestone and Grandpa’s Evaluation
Reaching the maximum of 1000 friendship points with your pet is significant. Once you hit this milestone, a special message appears: ”
Why Petting Your Pet Matters
Petting your pet isn’t just for the warm fuzzies. It’s a contributing factor to achieving in-game goals and progressing through the game effectively.
The “Pet Loves You” Message
Achieving the two-heart message, “[Pet] loves you,” which pops up when a pet has reached maximum friendship, isn’t just a pleasant acknowledgment of your bond. As previously mentioned, it’s crucial for securing one point in Grandpa’s Evaluation. This evaluation is paramount for your overall farm success and how well you’ve integrated into the valley.
Daily Routine and Consistency
Consistency is key when building your friendship with your pet. Petting your pet daily ensures a steady increase in their friendship level. Missing a day means you lose out on potential friendship points. Making pet petting a part of your daily routine will lead to the best possible outcome for your pet’s affection and your farm’s success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does filling the pet’s water bowl do anything?
Yes! Specifically for your cat, filling the water bowl with your watering can provides an additional 6 friendship points each morning. This bowl is usually near the doorway inside your house. Therefore, filling it daily in addition to petting can drastically boost your cat’s friendship.
2. Do I have to keep petting my animals every day?
For barn animals that produce items, you need to interact with them regularly to increase their happiness which in turn will provide better quality products. If you’re aiming to reach 5 hearts with a barn animal, you must interact with them daily to get their hearts up. After that, you can skip a day or two without their friendship levels significantly decreasing. However, for your house pet (cat or dog) to get the “loves you” message and the Grandpa Evaluation point, you should consistently pet them daily until you reach 1000 friendship points.
3. Can you see your pet’s friendship level?
No, unfortunately, Stardew Valley doesn’t provide a numerical display for your pet’s friendship level. The “
4. What happens if you miss a day petting your pet?
Missing a day of petting your pet means you’ll miss out on the 12 friendship points for that day. You will not lose any friendship, so you can continue building friendship the next day with no setbacks. However, continuous missed days will result in slowing down your progression.
5. Are there any benefits to having a pet besides friendship?
While pets don’t directly contribute to farm work, their presence and the associated friendship points are still beneficial. They add character to your farm and the points that can contribute to Grandpa’s Evaluation.
6. Does the type of pet (cat or dog) make a difference?
No. The core mechanics of petting and friendship points are identical for both cats and dogs. The additional reward of water bowl affection is exclusive to the cat. Otherwise, the benefits are the same for each pet.
7. What happens if I get a new pet?
You can only have one cat or dog per game file. If you select a different pet at the start of the game, you just have a different pet. You can’t swap or have more than one of these pets on one save file.
8. Can my pet run away?
No, unlike farm animals, your pet will not run away. They are loyal companions and will always be at your farm or in your house (if it is raining).
9. Do I need to feed my pet?
No, you do not need to feed your pet (cat or dog). However, barn animals will need food, usually Hay or grass, to stay happy. But cats and dogs do not need to be fed by you.
10. Can you have more than one pet?
No, you can only have one cat or one dog per farm. If you want more pets, you should consider the animals in your barn and coop. You can choose between a cat or a dog at the start of the game.
11. Can animals be “unhappy”?
Yes, animals will be unhappy if they are not fed or if they are kept inside a coop or barn without being able to go outside. Animals that eat fresh grass outside will have the very best mood possible, being “very happy today!” However, your cat or dog does not experience moods in the same way. They will always happily greet you.
12. Does having high friendship with other farm animals affect my pet?
No, the friendship system is independent for each animal – your cat/dog and your barn/coop animals have separate scores. Thus, their friendship is based on individual interactions, not a group mechanic.
13. Does weather affect my pet?
Yes, your cat will stay inside your home when it is raining. Your dog, however, will stay outside. Other than this, there are no significant effects of weather on your pet.
14. Can Auto-Petters be used on my cat or dog?
No, Auto-Petters only work with farm animals in barns and coops. You must manually pet your cat or dog every day.
15. What are the best animals to raise in Stardew Valley?
While this question is not directly related to petting your pet, many consider rabbits among the best animals to raise. This is because they produce wool and remove the need for sheep. Otherwise, pigs are also popular for their truffle production, and ostriches are very profitable.