Honestly, it is impossible to talk about Sims 4 My First Pet Stuff without mentioning the absolute chaos it caused when it launched back in 2018. It wasn't just another DLC. It was a cultural reset for the Sims community, but mostly for the wrong reasons. Most players remember it as the first time Electronic Arts decided to release "DLC for DLC," a move that felt, frankly, pretty bold. Or greedy. Depending on who you ask.
Usually, when you buy a pack for The Sims 4, it stands on its own. Not this one.
To get the full experience—specifically the furniture for cats and dogs—you actually had to own the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack first. If you didn't? Well, you were left with some rodents and some very specific furniture that felt a bit hollow. It felt like someone took a slice out of a pizza and then tried to sell it back to you as a "gourmet breadstick." People were mad. Like, "deleting the game" levels of mad.
The Rodent Situation is Actually Kind of Weird
Let's look past the controversy for a second and talk about what's actually in the box. You get four types of small pets: Hamsters, Rats, Pygmy Hedgehogs, and Bubalus. The Bubalus is basically a tiny, fictional space-cow creature. It's cute.
📖 Related: Your Rendering Device Has Been Lost: Why Your Game Just Crashed and How to Fix It
These little guys live in cages that take up a surprising amount of space on a desk or table. But here is the thing: they aren't just static objects like the lizards or frogs in the base game. They have lives. You'll see them going on "adventures" in their little habitats. Sometimes they literally fly a miniature rocket ship into space. I’m not joking. You’ll get a notification saying your hamster just went on a vacation to the tropics or wrote a best-selling novel. It is the peak of Sims absurdity.
But there is a dark side to these rodents.
Have you heard of Rabid Rodent Fever? It is a legitimate death type introduced in Sims 4 My First Pet Stuff. If you don't clean the cage, your hamster gets grumpy. If it bites you while the cage is dirty, your Sim starts sneezing. Then they get a fever. Then they start foaming at the mouth. Finally, they die. And the kicker? They turn into a giant ghost hamster. A translucent, rodent-shaped spirit that wanders your house. It is one of the more unique ways to go out in the game, and honestly, the "death by hamster" is probably the most "Sims" thing about this entire pack.
What the Pack Actually Adds (Beyond the Drama)
If we're being fair, the build/buy items are actually quite nice. If you’re into that very specific, colorful, kid-friendly aesthetic, it hits the mark. There are chairs shaped like animals. There are rugs with paw prints.
📖 Related: Be Worthy of Crossword Clue: Why This Simple Phrase Trips Up Even Pro Solvers
The clothing for pets is where things get divisive again. You can put your cat in a shark costume. You can put your dog in a little robe. It’s adorable, sure, but it felt like these should have been in the Cats & Dogs expansion to begin with. Many community members, including prominent YouTubers like LGR (Lazy Game Reviews), pointed out that the assets for these clothes were often just slightly modified versions of existing assets or things that logically belonged in the larger expansion.
Here's a quick rundown of the non-rodent stuff you get:
- Pet-themed mirrors and decor.
- A variety of "toddler-friendly" furniture.
- New outfits for Sims that match their pets (very "crazy cat lady" energy).
- A circular coffee table that looks like a giant pet bed.
The "DLC for DLC" label stuck because if you tried to use the pet beds or the cat trees from this pack without having Cats & Dogs installed, they were essentially decorative or non-functional in the way you'd expect. It created a tier system in the Sims 4 ecosystem that we haven't really seen repeated since, likely because the backlash was so loud.
The Modern Perspective: Is It Worth It Now?
Fast forward to today. Is Sims 4 My First Pet Stuff still the "villain" of the franchise?
Kinda. But also, EA actually gave it away for free for a limited time recently. That changed the conversation. When it’s free, it’s a great little addition. When it's ten bucks? That’s where the math gets fuzzy.
If you are a completionist who loves small animals, you’ll probably enjoy the rodents. They provide a "social" outlet for Sims who live alone and don't have space for a massive Golden Retriever. You can talk to them, feed them treats, and study them. It adds a layer of "living world" to a home office or a kid's bedroom that was missing.
However, if you're looking for deep gameplay, this isn't it. The rodents are mostly "set it and forget it" pets. You clean the cage, you fill the food, and you occasionally get bitten. It doesn't have the emotional depth of training a puppy or dealing with a stray cat's neuroses. It's a "Stuff Pack" in the truest, most literal sense of the word.
🔗 Read more: Why Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is still the best game in the series
Why the Community Can't Let Go
The reason we still talk about this pack in 2026 isn't because the hamsters are revolutionary. It's because of the principle. This pack represents a turning point in how Sims fans viewed the value of their hobby. It sparked thousands of forum posts about "micro-transactions" and "content cutting."
Even years later, whenever a new pack is announced, you’ll see someone in the comments saying, "At least it's not My First Pet Stuff." It has become the benchmark for how not to handle DLC.
But let’s be real: the furniture is actually decent for building nurseries. The "Don't Wake the Llama" table variant is cute. And the rodent death is a classic Sims prank on the player. If you can get past the history of its release, there’s a quirky little pack underneath that doesn't deserve all the hate, just maybe a healthy amount of skepticism.
Actionable Steps for Your Game
If you've just picked up the pack or are considering it, here is how to actually make use of it without losing your mind.
- Check for Sales Always: Never pay full price for this pack. It goes on sale for 50% off or even becomes free during special EA App events. Keep an eye on the seasonal sales.
- The "Vaccine" Trick: If your Sim gets bit by a hamster, do not wait. Go to a computer immediately and research the Rabid Rodent Fever. You can buy a vaccine for 500 Simoleons. If you wait until the final stage, it costs more, and you might literally die before the mailman arrives.
- Use the Rodents for Stories: Use the rodents to boost your Sim's "Logic" or "Science" storytelling. Having a "brilliant" hamster that writes novels is a great way to add flavor to a scientist Sim's household.
- Build/Buy Synergy: Use the furniture in combination with the Parenthood Game Pack. The styles mesh perfectly for creating a messy, lived-in kid's room.
- The Ghost Hamster: If you actually want a ghost hamster, let the fever run its course. It’s one of the rarest ghosts in the game and makes for a great "haunted house" playthrough.
At the end of the day, Sims 4 My First Pet Stuff is a weird piece of gaming history. It's a mix of cute rodents, questionable marketing, and one of the funniest ways for a Sim to meet their end. Whether it belongs in your library depends entirely on how much you value a space-traveling hamster over ten dollars.