How to Get Pets to Mate in 'The Sims 4'

To get pets to mate in The Sims 4, the two animals must get along with each other. If your furry friends aren't feeling frisky, there are a few tricks you can try to help encourage breeding.

Breeding Pets in 'The Sims 4'

There are a few prerequisites for breeding pets in The Sims 4:

• You must befriend the pet.
• Your pet must have a good relationship with the pet.
• The pets must have a good relationship with each other (the higher the level, the better).

When pets are ready to breed, the "Encourage to Mate" options appears. If your pet is a female animal in heat, you may see an "Encourage to Breed" notification and the option to choose a breeding partner.

About a day after the female animal gets pregnant, you may receive a notification. Pet pregnancy is shorter than in previous versions of the game; she'll be pregnant for about one or two days before delivering.

The Sim's pet may give birth to up to three litters of kittens or puppies. The maximum size of a litter is dependent on how many Sims and animals are already in the house.

After they are born, you can sell or give kittens and puppies to other Sim families. The amount of money you earn depends on how well the pet has been trained.

Large and Small Dog Breeding in 'The Sims 4'

While it's possible to breed a small dog and a large dog, animals can be only as large as their mothers, so a small female dog will always give birth to small puppies.

You'll generally have better luck breeding pets of the same size. If you want a big dog, make sure both of the parents are large.

What to Do When Your Pets Won't Breed

If your pets are having trouble with their relationship, try keeping them in an empty room together to force them to play with each other.

If there aren't any toys, and just some food, litter boxes, and beds, it'll be easier for them to breed.

Here are some more breeding tips:

• Don't forget that you need a house for the animal to breed in.
• If your pet isn't breeding, make sure it isn't already pregnant. Wait a few days for the pet to deliver, and then you can try again.
• If your pets are aggressive to one another, you can use the "Be Nice to" prompt to encourage them to get along.
• Praise your pets for playing with each other to encourage them.

How Many Pets Can You Have in 'The Sims 4'?

A lot maxes out at a total of 10 Sims and pets, with no more than eight Sims or six pets.

In other words, you can have up to six pets on a lot with four (or fewer) Sims. Likewise, you can have a lot with six Sims and four pets or eight Sims and two pets.