Minecraft cats, adorable additions to any virtual homestead, aren’t just decorative. These pixelated felines can keep phantoms at bay, offer companionship, and contribute to the overall charm of your digital world. But keeping your Minecraft cat happy and healthy means understanding their dietary needs. What exactly do these blocky buddies eat? Let’s dive into the delicious details of Minecraft cat nutrition.
Understanding Minecraft Cat Taming and Feeding
Before we discuss what cats eat, let’s clarify the difference between taming and feeding. Taming a cat transforms a wild stray into a loyal companion. Feeding, on the other hand, is typically done to tame a cat or heal a tamed one. The key difference is that taming creates a permanent bond, while feeding provides a temporary benefit or initiates the taming process.
The Importance of Taming
Taming is crucial because only tamed cats will follow you, teleport to your side if you get too far away, and offer gifts in the morning. Untamed cats simply roam around aimlessly and cannot be interacted with in the same meaningful way. A tamed cat also prevents phantom attacks while you sleep.
Feeding for Taming and Healing
The primary reason to feed a cat is to tame it. A tamed cat can also be fed to restore a small amount of health if it has taken damage. Understanding these two distinct purposes is essential for responsible Minecraft cat ownership.
The Culinary Preferences of Minecraft Cats: Raw Fish Reigns Supreme
Unlike their real-world counterparts, Minecraft cats have a rather limited palate. They aren’t interested in steak, chicken, or even milk. Their sole culinary desire is raw fish. Any type of raw fish will do – salmon or cod.
Why Raw Fish?
The game mechanics dictate that raw fish is the only food item that cats will accept for taming and healing. This is a deliberate design choice by Mojang, likely for simplicity and to ensure that players have a readily available food source for their feline friends, especially near water bodies.
Obtaining Raw Fish: A Fisherman’s Guide
Acquiring raw fish is relatively straightforward. The primary method is through fishing. Using a fishing rod near a body of water (ocean, river, lake) will yield various items, including raw fish. The rate at which you catch raw fish can be improved by using enchanted fishing rods, particularly those with the “Luck of the Sea” enchantment.
Another way to obtain raw fish is by killing polar bears. Polar bears sometimes drop raw fish upon death. This method is not recommended as the primary source of food, due to the rarity of polar bears and the risk involved in fighting them.
Storing Your Fishy Delights
Once you’ve acquired a decent supply of raw fish, proper storage is essential. Raw fish does not stack in Minecraft, meaning each fish takes up an individual inventory slot. Chests, barrels, and shulker boxes are your best friends here. Consider creating a dedicated “cat food” storage area in your base for easy access.
The Taming Process: Patience and Persistence with Raw Fish
Taming a Minecraft cat isn’t always a guaranteed success on the first try. It requires patience, a steady supply of raw fish, and a bit of luck.
Approaching a Stray Cat
The first step is to find a stray cat. These felines typically spawn in villages or swamp huts. Approach the cat slowly and cautiously. If you move too quickly, the cat will become frightened and run away.
The Feeding Ritual
Equip the raw fish in your hand and approach the cat until the “Feed” option appears. Click on the “Feed” button. The cat will eat the fish, and hearts will appear above its head. This indicates that the taming process has begun. However, it’s not always a guaranteed tame on the first attempt. You might need to feed the cat multiple fish before it becomes tamed.
The Sign of Success: A Collared Companion
Once the cat is successfully tamed, it will display a collar around its neck. The collar’s color is randomly chosen. You can dye the collar any color you desire using dyes. A tamed cat will also follow you around and sit down when you right-click on it.
Beyond Taming: Maintaining Your Cat’s Health with Fish
Even after a cat is tamed, raw fish remains important. It’s the only way to heal a wounded feline friend.
Healing Injuries
If your cat takes damage from a fall, a creeper explosion, or any other hostile encounter, you can restore its health by feeding it raw fish. The amount of health restored is relatively small, so you might need to feed it multiple fish to fully heal it.
Preventative Care
While you can’t directly prevent all injuries, keeping your cat safe within your base or on a leash can minimize the risks. Building cat-friendly structures, such as ramps and safe hiding places, can also contribute to their well-being.
The Unique Behaviors of Tamed Minecraft Cats
Tamed cats are more than just decorative pets; they exhibit several unique behaviors that enhance their role in the game.
Gift-Giving: Morning Presents from Your Feline Friend
One of the most endearing behaviors of tamed cats is their habit of bringing gifts to their owners in the morning. When you wake up in a bed near a tamed cat, there’s a chance it will present you with a gift. These gifts can range from feathers and rabbit’s feet to phantom membranes and even raw chicken.
Phantom Deterrent: Sleep Soundly with a Feline Guard
Cats have a natural aversion to phantoms, those pesky flying creatures that attack players who haven’t slept in a while. Having a cat nearby will prevent phantoms from spawning, allowing you to sleep soundly without the fear of being ambushed.
Sitting and Teleporting: Loyalty in Action
Tamed cats will faithfully follow you around, teleporting to your side if you stray too far. However, they can also be instructed to sit and stay in place by right-clicking on them. This is useful for keeping them out of harm’s way or preventing them from wandering off.
Breed-Specific Details: Different Looks, Same Love for Fish
Minecraft cats come in a variety of breeds, each with its unique appearance. However, regardless of their breed, all Minecraft cats share the same love for raw fish.
A Plethora of Patterns
From the classic tabby to the sleek black cat, Minecraft offers a wide range of feline appearances. These different breeds add visual diversity to the game and allow players to choose a cat that matches their personal style.
Behavioral Consistency
Despite their varied appearances, all Minecraft cats behave in the same way. They all eat raw fish, offer gifts, deter phantoms, and exhibit the same loyalty to their owners.
Troubleshooting Common Cat-Related Issues
Even with the best intentions, you might encounter some common issues related to Minecraft cats. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve them.
Cat Won’t Tame
If a cat refuses to be tamed, ensure you are using raw fish. Approach the cat slowly and patiently, and be prepared to feed it multiple fish. Sometimes, it simply takes a bit of luck.
Cat Disappeared
Cats can sometimes disappear due to glitches or despawning. Make sure your cat is in a safe, enclosed area. Using a name tag can prevent despawning.
Cat Won’t Follow
If your tamed cat isn’t following you, make sure it’s not in “sit” mode. Right-click on the cat to make it stand up and follow you again.
Conclusion: A Purr-fect Partnership
Minecraft cats are charming and useful companions in the blocky world. Understanding their dietary needs – a steady supply of raw fish – and their unique behaviors is essential for responsible cat ownership. Whether you’re seeking protection from phantoms, a loyal friend, or just a cute addition to your base, a tamed Minecraft cat is a valuable asset to any player. So, grab your fishing rod, stock up on raw fish, and embark on a purr-fect partnership with your very own Minecraft feline friend. Remember, a well-fed cat is a happy cat, and a happy cat makes for a happier Minecraft experience.
What food instantly tames a wild Minecraft cat?
The only food that can instantly tame a wild Ocelot (which turns into a cat once tamed) in Minecraft is raw fish. More specifically, raw cod or raw salmon will work. Hold the raw fish in your hand and approach the Ocelot slowly. If it’s interested, it will cautiously move towards you. Keep still and continue holding the fish until it moves close enough for the “Tame” option to appear. Use the fish to tame it!
Be patient and avoid sudden movements, as Ocelots are easily startled. Running or moving too quickly will cause them to flee. Once you have successfully tamed an Ocelot using raw fish, it will transform into one of the randomly selected cat breeds. These cats will then follow you and act as pets, just like tamed wolves or parrots.
Can Minecraft cats eat cooked fish?
No, Minecraft cats cannot be fed cooked fish such as cooked cod or cooked salmon. Only raw cod and raw salmon can be used to tame Ocelots, which become cats once tamed. Attempting to feed a cat cooked fish will not have any effect; it will not accept the food, and the feeding interaction will not be triggered.
While cooked fish is a good source of food for the player character in Minecraft, it serves no purpose in interacting with or feeding cats. Stick to raw cod or raw salmon if your aim is to tame an Ocelot, transforming it into a loyal cat companion. Keep cooked fish for your own hunger needs!
Do Minecraft cats need to eat after being tamed?
No, once a Minecraft Ocelot has been successfully tamed and transformed into a cat, it doesn’t require any further feeding. Unlike some other tamed animals, like wolves which you can feed to heal them, cats maintain their health and loyalty without the need for any ongoing sustenance.
Your tamed cat will follow you around and provide comfort but won’t get hungry or require you to provide food. Their primary function is to deter Creepers from getting too close and to be an adorable companion. So you can focus on exploring and building without worrying about constantly feeding your feline friend.
What happens if I try to feed a cat something other than raw fish?
If you attempt to feed a Minecraft cat anything other than raw cod or raw salmon, nothing will happen. The cat simply won’t accept the item. The game’s mechanics are specifically coded to only allow raw fish to be used for the taming process of Ocelots, which then turn into cats upon successful taming.
You won’t see any interaction prompts like “Feed” appearing when holding the incorrect item. This applies to all other food items in the game, including cooked fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits. Only raw cod and raw salmon will initiate the taming sequence for an Ocelot.
Do different types of raw fish have different effects on taming an Ocelot?
No, raw cod and raw salmon have identical effects when taming Ocelots. There is no difference in taming speed, success rate, or the resulting cat breed based on which type of raw fish you use. Either raw cod or raw salmon will work equally well to initiate the taming process and transform the Ocelot into a cat.
Therefore, you can simply use whichever type of raw fish is more readily available to you. If you’re fishing, don’t worry about targeting a specific type of fish for taming; both raw cod and raw salmon are equally effective in befriending a wild Ocelot and gaining a feline companion.
Can cats be bred in Minecraft?
Yes, cats in Minecraft can be bred. To breed two cats, you need to feed each of them raw cod or raw salmon. Make sure they are close to each other when you feed them. Hearts will appear above their heads, indicating that they are in “love mode” and ready to breed.
After a short time, a kitten will appear. The kitten’s breed will be one of the parent’s breeds or a random breed. You need to wait 20 minutes for the kitten to grow into an adult cat. Breeding cats is a good way to increase your number of feline companions and add variety to your Minecraft world.
Are there any advantages to having cats in Minecraft besides companionship?
Yes, besides companionship, cats in Minecraft provide a practical benefit: they scare away Creepers. Creepers are naturally afraid of cats and will actively avoid them. This makes cats useful for protecting your base or areas you want to keep Creeper-free.
By having a cat or multiple cats around your house or farm, you can significantly reduce the chance of Creepers sneaking up and causing explosions. Cats essentially act as a natural defense mechanism against this common Minecraft threat, adding a valuable layer of security to your builds.