If your pet runs away in The Sims 4, you can either wait for them to come back home or post a Missing Pet alert to hasten their return. Pets generally run away after their Sims have been neglecting their needs for too long.
Pets typically come back after two or three days. If your pet has the Adventurous trait, they’ll often run away to explore new territories.
Why do cats and dogs run away in Sims 4?
Cats and dogs typically run away if they’re scared or you’ve neglected their needs for too long. Pets often run away after a fight they had with another animal. They can also run away when they’re in heat or when a fire breaks out in the house.
Pets can also run away after getting scolded too harshly. Be gentle when you train out misbehaviors.
Cats and dogs that have the Loyal and Affectionate traits will rarely run away. On the other hand, traits like Adventurous, Independent, and Prowler make your pets prone to running away.
They just can’t resist the urge to go outside and explore new territories.
Unfortunately, random fires are quite frequent in the game. Pets will get scared when they see the flames and run away.
Make sure your Sim puts out the fire as quickly as possible.
How to report a missing pet in The Sims 4
To report a missing pet in The Sims 4, click on the phone and post a Missing Pet notice. Your pet should return within a day after posting the notice.
If you don’t post the alert, it may take several days until your pet returns.
How to prevent pets from running away in Sims 4
You can prevent pets from running away by locking all the doors and yard gates. Do that and the only way for pets to leave the lot is if you’re traveling with them.
Additionally, make sure your pet’s needs are taken care of. They need a little affection once a day. Keep them fed and happy and they’ll have absolutely no reasons to run away. Take them to the vet as soon as possible when they get sick.
Buy an automatic feeder to keep their bowl full. Then, make sure to potty train them to strike that need off your list of tasks.
If your Sim owns a dog, have them take their pet for a walk every day. Your Sim will get friendship points during the walk and become Best Friends with their pet.
Happy Simming!
Speaking of pets, you may also want to check out the guides below: