My single girl hasn't been able to find a suitable mate and is a bit blue, so I thought buying her a cat would help her mood. All it does is follow her around though, and she doesn't even acknowledge that it's there. You can't even select the pet or anything...it just wanders around without the occupants of the house knowing it's there. I feel like I wasted her hard earned money in buying it for her.

They don't notice the new clothes you buy them either, plus they lose the outfit they were wearing when you buy another. It would be nice if they could keep all the clothes you buy in the game....A real disapointment!

I just tried the baby boost. Just another waste of their hard earned money. Real bummer!

EDIT: THE BABY BOOST DOES WORK AFTER ALL
It took several tries (about an hour and half), but she finally did get pregnant with triplets...which is what I wanted since they're in their forties and may not be able to have more.

i tried the baby boost too but it didnt work for me, i only had one

asingle girl with a cat... OUCH!!

I love the cat I got my family. The first thing it did was walk out to the birdhouse and lie around, I guess waiting for a snack. Then one of my peeps went out there to call the birds (what are the odds). When the bathroom faucet started leaking, the cat followed my peep to assist with the repair and sprawled right in the puddle -- not afraid of water I guess! Since this is a cat we're talking about, I don't think it would pay attention even if you tried to interact with it...

I know my real ones don't, but when they try to interact with you, you better pay attention.

Hey, some of us are single gals with cats in real life - and, believe it or not, happy that way!

The pets seem to rotate through the Misc. store section, it took a while for the dog to show up. The dog likes to sleep with the youngest of the family.

I have to agree with you about thinking pets are a waste of virtual money. I have the turtle and it always wanders outside where it looks like a collectible at first glance. I wouldn't mind it if I could move it, but I can't.

Do the pets affect the happiness of the family? Maybe they provide a happiness boost? Does anyone know?

Not that I have noticed. In fact, they didn't even celebrate getting it. There is zero notice from the family.