Taming a cat in Minecraft is a rewarding endeavor, adding a charming and useful companion to your blocky adventures. Cats aren’t just cute; they can also deter Creepers, making them valuable allies around your base. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of the entire process, from finding a cat to understanding their behavior and ensuring their well-being.
Finding a Feline Friend: Locating Minecraft Cats
Before you can tame a cat, you need to find one. Cats in Minecraft spawn naturally in two primary locations: villages and swamp huts. The process for finding them varies slightly depending on the location.
Villages: A Hub for Feline Companionship
Villages are the most common place to find cats. They typically spawn in villages that have at least one villager and several beds. The number of cats that spawn in a village is directly proportional to the number of villagers and beds present. The larger the village, the more likely you are to find multiple cats. Look around houses, near villagers, and even on rooftops. Cats are often found wandering around these areas.
Cats in villages come in various breeds and colors, adding to the diversity of your potential feline companions. The specific breed that spawns is random, so you might have to visit several villages to find a cat with the look you desire.
Swamp Huts: A Risky but Rewarding Expedition
Swamp huts are another potential location for finding cats, specifically black cats. A swamp hut will always contain a black cat. These black cats are exclusive to swamp huts, making it the only place to consistently find this specific breed. Keep in mind that swamp huts also house witches, so be prepared for a potentially dangerous encounter. Approaching a swamp hut requires caution and proper equipment to deal with the witch’s attacks.
Preparing for the Taming Process: Gathering Your Resources
Once you’ve located a cat, you’ll need to prepare for the taming process. The only item you need to tame a cat is raw fish. This includes raw cod or raw salmon. Having a good supply of raw fish increases your chances of successfully taming the cat on your first attempt.
Acquiring Raw Fish: Fishing and Coastal Expeditions
There are two main ways to acquire raw fish in Minecraft: fishing and killing guardians. Fishing is the more reliable method, especially early in the game.
To fish, you’ll need a fishing rod. Fishing rods can be crafted using three sticks and two strings. Once you have a fishing rod, find a body of water and cast your line. Wait for the bobber to be pulled underwater, then quickly right-click (or press the appropriate button on your controller) to reel in your catch. You’ll often catch fish, but you might also get other items like junk or treasure.
Guardians are found in ocean monuments, and killing them yields raw fish. However, ocean monuments are dangerous structures guarded by multiple guardians, so this method is only recommended for experienced players with good equipment.
Cooking Fish: The Importance of Raw Fish
While you can cook fish for food, it’s important to remember that cats can only be tamed with raw fish. Cooked fish will not work. Make sure you have a sufficient amount of raw fish before attempting to tame a cat.
The Taming Process: Approaching and Feeding the Cat
Now that you have your raw fish, it’s time to approach the cat and attempt to tame it. This requires patience and a gentle approach.
Approaching the Cat: Stealth and Patience are Key
Cats in Minecraft are easily spooked, so it’s crucial to approach them slowly and cautiously. Avoid running or making sudden movements, as this will likely cause the cat to flee. Crouching (by pressing Shift on a keyboard or the corresponding button on your controller) will help you approach the cat more stealthily.
Keep a safe distance from the cat while you approach. It’s best to have your raw fish selected in your hotbar and ready to use.
Feeding the Cat: The Moment of Truth
Once you’re within a few blocks of the cat, and it’s not running away, you can attempt to feed it. With the raw fish selected in your hotbar, right-click (or press the appropriate button on your controller) on the cat. The cat will move towards you.
If the taming is successful, red hearts will appear above the cat’s head, and it will gain a collar. This collar will be red by default but can be dyed using dyes. If the taming is unsuccessful, the cat will simply eat the fish, and you’ll need to feed it more fish until it’s successfully tamed. The number of fish required to tame a cat varies, so be prepared to feed it several.
Post-Taming Care: Ensuring Your Cat’s Happiness
Once you’ve successfully tamed a cat, it becomes your loyal companion. However, there are a few things you need to know to keep your cat happy and healthy.
Understanding Cat Behavior: Following, Sitting, and Teleporting
Tamed cats will typically follow you around, much like wolves or parrots. However, you can instruct your cat to sit and stay in one place by right-clicking (or pressing the appropriate button on your controller) on it. When sitting, the cat will remain in place until you tell it to follow you again.
If you travel too far from your cat, it will teleport to your location. This ensures that your feline friend is never too far behind. Teleportation only occurs when you are a significant distance away.
Protecting Your Cat: Keeping it Safe from Harm
While cats can deter Creepers, they are still vulnerable to other dangers in Minecraft, such as hostile mobs, lava, and falls. It’s important to protect your cat from these threats.
Keep your cat indoors or in a well-lit and safe area when you’re not actively exploring. Avoid bringing your cat to dangerous areas like the Nether or the End, as these environments pose a significant risk to their safety.
Breeding Cats: Expanding Your Feline Family
If you have two tamed cats, you can breed them to create kittens. To breed cats, you need to feed each cat raw cod or raw salmon. After feeding them, hearts will appear above their heads, and they will breed to produce a kitten. Kittens inherit the breed and color of one of their parents randomly.
Kittens are initially small and will grow into adults over time. Like adult cats, kittens can also be instructed to sit or follow you.
Changing the Cat’s Collar Color
Once you’ve tamed a cat, its collar will be red by default. But you can change its collar color using dyes. Simply hold a dye in your hand and right-click on the cat. The cat’s collar will change to the color of the dye. You can use any of the 16 dyes available in Minecraft to customize your cat’s appearance.
The Benefits of Having a Tamed Cat
Beyond their adorable appearance, tamed cats offer several practical benefits in Minecraft.
Creeper Deterrent: Keeping Your Base Safe
One of the most significant benefits of having a cat is their ability to deter Creepers. Creepers are naturally afraid of cats and will actively avoid them. This makes cats valuable allies around your base, helping to prevent Creeper explosions.
Simply having a cat nearby can significantly reduce the risk of Creeper attacks. Cats will hiss at Creepers, causing them to back away.
Sleeping Benefits: A Purrfect Companion
When you sleep in a bed with a tamed cat nearby, there’s a chance that the cat will bring you a gift in the morning. These gifts can include items like feathers, rabbit’s feet, or even phantom membranes. This provides a small but useful bonus for having a feline companion.
Troubleshooting Common Issues: What to do when Things Go Wrong
Sometimes, taming a cat doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them.
Cat Keeps Running Away: Maintaining a Safe Distance and Using Stealth
If a cat keeps running away, it’s likely because you’re approaching too quickly or making sudden movements. Remember to crouch and approach slowly and cautiously. Maintain a safe distance and avoid startling the cat.
Not Enough Fish: Stocking Up on Resources
If you run out of fish before taming the cat, you’ll need to gather more. Return to a body of water and continue fishing until you have a sufficient supply of raw fish.
Witch Interference: Dealing with Swamp Hut Hazards
If you’re trying to tame a black cat in a swamp hut and are being attacked by the witch, prioritize dealing with the witch first. Use ranged attacks to defeat the witch from a safe distance. Once the witch is defeated, you can focus on taming the cat.
Cat Won’t Sit Still: Patience and Persistence
Sometimes, cats can be restless and difficult to tame. Be patient and persistent. Keep feeding the cat raw fish until it’s successfully tamed. Don’t give up!
Advanced Cat Herding: Moving Multiple Cats
Moving multiple cats can be a bit challenging, but with the right techniques, it’s manageable.
Leading with Fish: The Power of Temptation
One effective way to move multiple cats is to hold raw fish in your hand. Cats will follow you if you’re holding raw fish, even if they’re not tamed. This can be useful for leading cats into a specific area.
Minecarts: A Transportation Solution
Another option is to use minecarts. You can place a cat in a minecart and then push the minecart to transport the cat to its desired location. This is particularly useful for long distances.
Temporary Enclosures: A Safe Holding Space
Building a small, temporary enclosure can be helpful for containing cats while you’re moving them. Simply lead the cats into the enclosure and then close the gate. This prevents them from wandering off while you’re preparing to transport them.
Conclusion: Enjoying Your Feline Companion
Taming a cat in Minecraft is a fun and rewarding experience. With patience and a little bit of preparation, you can add a charming and useful companion to your blocky world. Enjoy the benefits of having a feline friend, from deterring Creepers to receiving gifts while you sleep. Now go forth and tame your own Minecraft cat!
What kind of fish do I need to tame a Minecraft cat?
You need to use raw cod or raw salmon to tame a Minecraft cat. Any other type of fish, cooked or raw, will not work. Ensure you have a steady supply of either raw cod or raw salmon prepared before you approach any untamed ocelots. Keep in mind that the chances of taming an ocelot are not guaranteed with just one fish; you might need several.
It’s advisable to fish for cod or salmon near rivers or oceans in your Minecraft world. This is the only method for acquiring the necessary food. Remember to be patient and persistent as the taming process relies on random chance, and having multiple raw fish on hand will significantly improve your odds of success.
How do I find an ocelot in Minecraft?
Ocelots primarily spawn in jungle biomes in Minecraft. These biomes are characterized by tall trees, dense vegetation, and generally humid conditions. Look for ocelots near the edges of the jungle or in areas with sparse trees, as they tend to avoid the densest parts of the jungle.
While jungle biomes are the main spawning location, keep in mind that they can be relatively rare depending on your world generation. Explore thoroughly and be patient in your search. Using seeds known to generate jungle biomes near spawn can also be a helpful strategy to locate ocelots more quickly.
How close should I get to an ocelot before attempting to feed it?
You should aim to be within approximately 10 blocks of the ocelot before attempting to feed it raw fish. However, the most important factor is to approach the ocelot slowly and cautiously. Quickly approaching or moving erratically will scare the ocelot and cause it to run away.
The best approach is to equip the raw fish in your hand, hold right-click (or your equivalent button for using items) to prepare to feed, and then slowly walk toward the ocelot while maintaining a safe distance. If the ocelot looks at you and begins to approach, stop moving and wait for it to get closer. Once it’s close enough, the “Feed” prompt will appear.
Why did the ocelot run away when I tried to tame it?
Ocelots are naturally skittish creatures in Minecraft, and several factors can cause them to flee. Rapid movements, sudden noises, or even just getting too close too quickly can startle them. Running, jumping, or any other fast action near an ocelot will almost certainly scare it away.
Furthermore, if the ocelot has already been scared once, it will be more difficult to approach it again. Patience is key. Approach slowly, stay crouched if possible (which makes you less visible), and avoid any sudden movements. Make sure your line of sight is clear and there are no other mobs nearby that could potentially startle it.
What does a tamed Minecraft cat do?
A tamed Minecraft cat primarily acts as a companion. It will follow you around, teleporting to your side if you get too far away. They can also sit on furniture like beds, chests, and crafting tables, adding a touch of charm to your base.
Beyond companionship, tamed cats have a functional benefit: they can scare away phantoms and creepers. Phantoms will avoid you if you have a cat nearby, and creepers will keep a greater distance. Cats may also occasionally bring you gifts, like rabbit’s feet or phantom membranes, when you wake up in the morning.
Can I breed tamed cats in Minecraft?
Yes, you can breed tamed cats in Minecraft. To breed cats, you need to feed each cat raw cod or raw salmon until hearts appear above their heads, indicating they are in “love mode.” Once both cats are in love mode, they will breed and produce a kitten.
Kittens inherit one of their parents’ coat colors or a randomly generated one. Make sure you have enough beds in the area, as the kitten will need a bed to claim as its own. Also, note that breeding cats is a reliable way to get more cats with different appearances.
How many different cat breeds are there in Minecraft?
There are currently 11 different cat breeds available in Minecraft. These breeds range in appearance from common tabby patterns to sleek black cats and even a Siamese variety. The specific breed a cat will be is determined randomly when you successfully tame an ocelot, or when breeding two tamed cats.
The different breeds are purely cosmetic and do not affect the cat’s behavior or abilities. Collecting all the different cat breeds can be a fun goal for players who enjoy the pet aspect of Minecraft. Keep taming ocelots and breeding cats to complete your collection.