The Sims 3 Pets has been a very welcome addition to my Sims collection! I think that the creators have definitely upped their standards with this game as I would already, after only a few weeks of playing it, consider it my favourite Sims 3 expansion pack.

The fact that Pets are now playable, which was not really an option with the Sims 1 and 2 versions, adds a whole new aspect to the game, making it far more enjoyable than the previous two versions as there are a lot more gameplay options and interactions with, not only the animal's owners, but also other animals - both wild and within the household.

Your Sim can adopt a wide range of cats, dogs and horses (and also Unicorns if you manage to befriend one). There are also various small animals such as snakes and lizards which can either be bought or found around the neighbourhood. You can control not only how long your Sim's life stages are but also your pets too so they can live for as long or as short a time as you prefer.

When your Sim owns a horse you can then make them train and compete in competitions for trophies and simoleons (Sim money), adding a whole new career path of becoming a professional jockey. You can also teach cats and dogs to hunt for gems and smaller animals. Dogs even have the ability, after gaining a certain skill level, to fetch dates for your sims!

There is a brand new neighbourhood called Appaloosa Plains, which has a very countryish feel to it and provides dog and cat parks as well as the Equestrian centre and training grounds plus the usual buildings such as the spa and restaurant.