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Many more small pets were introduced with ''[[The Sims: Unleashed]]''. Sims were able to go to [[Old Town]] and purchase a variety of small pets, including '''iguanas''', '''turtles''' and small birds such as '''budgies''' and '''love birds'''. All of them require feeding and cleaning occasionally, but they don't need as much attention as cats and dogs. However, unlike cats and dogs, they can - and ''will'' - eventually die, no matter how carefully they are cared for. '''Parrots''' and '''Cockatoos''' can also be bought in [[Buy Mode]], for §939 and §749, respectively. Sims can not only feed them crackers, but also talk to them, which boosts the selected Sim's [[Charisma]].
==The Sims 2==
As in ''The Sims'', the only way Sims could have small pets in ''[[The Sims 2]]'' base game was to have an aquarium, the '''Aquabox Five-Gallon Aquarium'''. It must be stocked by clicking on it and selecting the "Restock" options. Sims must feed the fish and clean the tank regularly, or they will die. ''[[The Sims 2: Pets]]'' added another stylish fish tank, which works the same as the base game aquarium.
[[File:The-sims-2-pets--20060824011216351_640w-1-.jpg|thumb|A womrat]][[File:WomratAndSim.jpg|175px|thumb|A Sim playing with her womrat]] In addition to [[dog]]s and [[cat]]s, ''The Sims 2: Pets'' added womrats and parrots. In order to have Sims keep them, the player must buy the appropriate cage in [[Buy mode]], then use the cage's "Restock" option to purchase the pet. This can only be done if the cage is empty and clean; womrats cost §75, while birds cost §400. The womrat cage is called the '''FMCU 3000''' (FMCU stands for "Fuzzy Mammal Containment Unit"), while the bird cage is the '''Tropico Avian Sanctuary'''. ''[[Apartment Life]]'', added the '''Modern Arf Indoor Dog Pen''', which allows Sims to keep a small dog in the pen; the pen costs §525, while the dogs cost §500.
{{Info|Note|Using the '''Modern Arf Indoor Dog Pen''' does not require the ''Pets'' expansion pack. The pen uses separate meshes, textures, and animations, all of which are included in ''Apartment Life''.}}
When stocking a cage or pen, the player will have a choice of several fur or feather colors, and will be able to name the pet. Sims must feed small pets regularly; feeding a womrat or penned dog costs §10, while feeding a bird costs §20. Womrats and birds will eventually starve if not fed, but a starving penned dog will be taken away by an Animal Control officer before it can die. Small pets that are hungry may bite, and ones that are starving will have "hungry" thought bubble above their heads. It is also important to keep the cage or pen clean, as a dirty cage not only brings down the room's [[Environment]] score, but lowers the small pet's mood, increasing the chances that it will bite. While a womrat is essentially a guinea pig, the [[Illness#Guinea Pig Disease|Guinea Pig Disease]] from ''[[The Sims: Livin' Large]]'' does not exist in ''The Sims 2''.
Sims can play with and watch these small pets, and can carry along the parrot or penned dog. Also, parrots can be taught to talk. Once they've learned to talk, Sims can talk to them to build [[Charisma]] skill. Sims will also build [[Nature]] [[enthusiasm]]{{Vgversion|TS2:FT}} whenever they clean the cage or talk to a bird.
Bird cages can be opened. An open bird cage will eventually let the parrot out and it will fly around the house. Nearby Sims will think this is fun. Sims cannot interact with the parrot while it's flying, and it will not escape and cannot be caught by cats or dogs.
A womrat or bird can be set free, and a penned dog can be given up for adoption.
Small pets are the only pets that [[young adult]]s can keep on [[college]] lots, or that can be kept in vacation homes.
[[File:Snapshot releasebutterflies.jpg|thumb|right|Releasing butterflies]]Sims can also keep [[Bug catching|collected butterflies and fireflies]]{{Vgversion|TS2:S}} in a jar. If they are not released, they will eventually die and the jar will have to be cleaned. Neither the [[maid]] nor the [[butler]] will clean it, though.
== The Sims 3 ==
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