Motive (pet)

Like Sims, pets have eight motive meters that contribute to their overall mood.

Hunger
Pets need to eat just as much as Sims do. Luckily, they're not nearly as demanding about when or what to consume. To feed pets, there are two options. The best way is to buy a pet bowl. Pet bowls can be bought in the Pet subsort of the Miscellaneous sort of Buy Mode. The Sims: Unleashed includes two pet bowls, and many custom bowls have been made as well. Many of these simply add colors and styles, but some have been modified so that the maid will fill them or so that they will refill themselves. In The Sims 2: Pets pet bowls come in three designs, and each design has multiple styles and colors.

Alternately, pets can eat human food as well. If a plate is nearby, a pet may help himself to it. Pets won't get sick off human food or anything, but it's far more expensive in the long term to feed pets this way.

Once a pet bowl is bought, simply command a Sim to fill it. Ten simoleons will be deducted from the household account automatically, and the bowl will be filled right then. A single pet can eat for several days on one fill. In Pets, only one pet can eat from the bowl at a time, so multiple bowls are needed for multiple pets. In Unleashed, two pets can eat from a bowl at the same time, but since the neighborhood strays can and will come around to eat food Sims put out for their pets, multiple bowls is still a good idea.

In Unleashed, pet bowls never need cleaning. In Pets, players should remember to clean pet bowls now and then before refilling them, otherwise pets will be forced to go rooting around in the trash. Maids will do this automatically in addition to their other duties.

If a pet is hungry and his bowl is empty, he may beg a Sim for food. If he does, the Sim may automatically fill it.

Comfort
Pets rarely have low comfort meters, as they'll often look for places to sit or lie. Like Sims, pets will probably get the biggest boost to Comfort when they sleep. As long as there are comfortable pet beds, or don't mind pets being on furniture, Comfort isn't likely to be a problem.

Bladder
When a pet needs to go, it needs to go. Cats will automatically seek out litter boxes if available, and it takes several trips to a litter box before it needs to be cleaned. To know when to clean it, Sims in the bathroom will start reacting to the smell. Until then, cats have no problem using it. Cats will only pee elsewhere if the box is too full, or if they specifically trained not to. Actually, cats can even be trained to use the toilet, eliminating the need for litter boxes entirely!

Until they are properly trained and house broken, dogs are happy to go wherever they are, usually creating a mess in the house in the process. Dogs can be taken on walks which relieves their bladder needs.

Energy
Pets lose energy quite quickly if they are running around, and so need to sleep about twice a day. They'll sleep pretty much anywhere, but they prefer pet beds and pet houses, it's best to encourage sleeping in pet beds and pet houses because their energy level goes up much quicker especially with expensive pet resting objects. All pets can use floors, couches, or Sim beds if allowed, but pets and Sims cannot share a couch or the same side of a bed.

Fun
Cats and dogs have many ways they enjoy themselves, but they get the best Fun boost from other beings. That can mean playing fetch with a Sim, or playing around with other dogs and cats. Most of the toys in Buy Mode are for cats; dogs get a bigger kick out of social interaction and digging holes.

Cats also have fun watching birds.

A lot of times, a pet's Fun meter will go up while training a command. Of course, training drops the Energy meter a little quicker. Cats will play with cat toys when their fun goes down and it's best if to praise them when because when it has completely learnt to play the player can command it to play with whatever or whomever is available.

Social
Pets are social creatures, even more so than Sims. Unless a pet is both independent and lazy, he'll almost assuredly take care of Social on his own. Pets of course will want to interact with their masters, but if multiple pets are on the lot, they'll almost always be interacting with each other. Either way, pets will interact with strays as well, keeping that Social meter nice and high.

A pet in need of a Social boost may try to get a Sim's attention.

Hygiene
The Hygiene meter is extremely dependent on the species. Cats are naturally clean, always licking themselves and making sure their meters are nice and high. Even pigpen cats are pretty hygienic.

Dogs require baths to get clean. When a dog starts scratching himself, it's a sure sign that he needs a bath.

Scratch & Chew
For cats the eighth meter is called Scratch. For dogs it is Chew. Cats need to sharpen their claws now and then, and will seek out whatever is nearby to do so. Buying a scratching post or a chew toy in Buy Mode, will lessen the risk that pets will destroy furniture. If a pet does annihilate a bed, couch, or whatever, it cannot be repaired. All that can be done is clean up the mess and buy a new one.

Pets can be trained to use scratching posts and chew toys, of course, but they typically will do it on their own anyway. It is best by praising the pet for scratching or chewing things that the player wants it to scratch or chew otherwise it might fall back to destroying furniture. If a pet destroys valuable furniture, scold it, though it's best if the Sim has a good relationship with the pet before scolding it.

Chew toys like the squeaky bone and scratching posts can be bought under miscellaneous>pets in the buy mode.

Respectful dogs and cats can be commanded to use the squeaky bone or scratching post.