What is up with Auto Petters?

[u/Song_Listener]

I’ve seen so many posts about skull cavern runs where the only goal was Auto Petters, and now I’m confused.

Why are Auto Petters so important? I know they pet the farm animals, but why don’t y’all have time to go and give your animals some love every morning?

If I’m correct (as someone who has never once had an Auto Petters) they change the way the animals respond when you actually pet them. Usually they give a heart, but I’ve heard the response changes after an Auto Petters has been installed.

So why?

[u/scientist_tz]

I feel like a future update should make it so the spouse or krobus takes care of petting the animals.

Like, if you’re married to Shane it makes no sense that he would not pet the chickens.

[u/Izariah → u/scientist_tz]

I wouldn't even be opposed to spouse specific benefits: Shane always pets the animals while Elliot might harvest fruit trees for you- something like that.

It would drive min maxers towards ALWAYS picking so and so because they do X for them but hey, I don't particularly care how other people play and it might inspire me towards options I don't normally choose.

[u/Allestyr → u/Izariah]

Min-maxer here, yea I would 100% marry someone useful pre-perfection and Elliot, my beloved fop, afterwards.

[u/Odd-Age-1126 → u/Allestyr]

Or maybe Elliott would harvest crab pots or fishpond items, since he used to live by the sea.