How to Breed Cats in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you want to become a feline fancier in Minecraft and breed your own purrfect kittens? You’ve come to the right place! Breeding cats in Minecraft is a straightforward process, adding a charming and useful element to your blocky world. Here’s the definitive guide:
To breed two cats in Minecraft, you’ll need two tamed cats. Ensure they are close to each other. Then, feed both cats either raw cod or raw salmon. This will put them into “love mode,” signified by hearts appearing above their heads. A kitten will then spawn nearby within a few seconds. Remember that the parent cats cannot breed again for approximately 5 minutes after. Make sure at least one cat is standing up for the breeding to work successfully.
Essential Steps to Cat Breeding
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Taming: First and foremost, you need to tame some stray cats! This is essential for breeding.
- Gather Your Fish: Head to a river or lake and collect plenty of raw cod or raw salmon. Fishing is the easiest way to acquire these.
- Find Your Felines: Locate two stray cats in the world. Villages are often a good place to start looking.
- Taming Time: Equip the raw fish and approach a stray cat slowly. Use the fish on the cat. Hearts will appear above its head when it’s tamed. Repeat for the second cat.
- Breeding Conditions: Once tamed, ensure the two cats are close together (within a few blocks of each other).
- Initiate Love Mode: Feed each cat a piece of raw cod or raw salmon. If they are eligible to breed, hearts will appear above their heads, indicating they have entered “love mode“.
- The Result: After a brief pause, a kitten will spawn nearby! The kitten will inherit a color variation randomly selected.
- Patience is Key: Remember that the parent cats need a cooldown period before they can breed again (approximately 5 minutes).
Why Breed Cats? The Purr-pose
Breeding cats is more than just cute; it offers several benefits:
- Companionship: Who wouldn’t want more feline friends? Cats follow you around, sit on furniture, and generally make your base feel more lively.
- Creeper Deterrent: Creepers are naturally afraid of cats and ocelots, so having cats around your base can help keep those pesky explosions at bay.
- Aesthetic Variety: With various breeds and color variations available, you can create a diverse and visually appealing cat colony.
- Collection and Trading: Breed rare color variations or breeds and showcase or potentially trade them in multiplayer environments.
Troubleshooting: Why Isn’t It Working?
If your cats aren’t breeding, consider the following:
- Are they tamed? Both cats must be tamed before they can breed.
- Are they close enough? The cats need to be within a few blocks of each other.
- Do they have food? Make sure you have raw cod or raw salmon in your hand and feed them.
- Are they on cooldown? If you recently bred them, they need to wait for a few minutes.
- Is there enough space? Ensure there’s enough space around the cats for the kitten to spawn.
- Are any other mobs interfering? Hostile mobs nearby might disrupt the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I tame a cat in Minecraft?
To tame a cat, equip raw cod or raw salmon and slowly approach a stray cat. Feed it the fish until hearts appear above its head. This indicates that the cat is now tamed and your ally.
What food can I use to breed cats?
You can only use raw cod or raw salmon to breed cats in Minecraft. Cooked fish will not work.
How long does it take for a kitten to grow into an adult?
It takes approximately 20 minutes (one Minecraft day) for a kitten to grow into a fully grown adult cat. You can speed this up by feeding the kitten raw cod or raw salmon.
Can I breed a cat with an ocelot?
No, you cannot breed cats with ocelots. Ocelots are a separate mob and, while once tameable, they can only be befriended in newer versions of Minecraft by gaining their trust through feeding them.
What are the different cat breeds in Minecraft?
Minecraft features several cat breeds, including: black cats, British shorthairs, calico, Jellie, Persian, ragdoll, red, Siamese, tabby, tuxedo, and white cats. The kitten will inherit a random variation.
Do cats have any special abilities in Minecraft?
Besides being adorable, cats can scare away creepers and phantoms. They also sometimes bring you gifts while you sleep.
Can I name my cat in Minecraft?
Yes, you can name your cat using a name tag and an anvil. Place the name tag in the anvil, rename it, and then use the renamed name tag on your cat.
Can cats drown in Minecraft?
Cats can swim in Minecraft. They will naturally try to stay afloat and find their way to safety.
What happens if a cat sits on my bed or chest?
If a cat sits on your bed or chest, you can still interact with the bed or chest. The cat will not block access.
Can cats teleport in Minecraft?
Yes, cats (and other pets) will teleport to you if you move too far away.
Can I breed cats in a Minecraft realm?
Yes, the cat breeding process is the same in a Minecraft realm as it is in a single-player world.
How do I find stray cats in Minecraft?
Stray cats are most commonly found in villages. They can also spawn in swamp biomes near witch huts, where a black cat will always spawn initially.
Why won’t my cats enter love mode even after feeding them fish?
Ensure they are fully tamed and that no hostile mobs are nearby. Also, make sure there is enough space around them. If they were recently bred, wait for about 5 minutes.
Can cats be hurt by fall damage in Minecraft?
Cats can take fall damage, but they are more resilient than some other mobs. Having a cat fall a long distance is still not recommended.
What’s the difference between taming a cat and befriending an ocelot in modern Minecraft?
In older versions of Minecraft, ocelots could be tamed into regular cats. However, in modern versions, feeding an ocelot earns its trust, causing it to follow you, but it remains an ocelot and will not become a cat. Taming a cat is still done through feeding and results in a pet that can wear a collar.
Final Thoughts
Breeding cats in Minecraft is a rewarding experience, adding personality and charm to your virtual world. Understanding the mechanics and addressing potential issues ensures a thriving feline family. So grab your raw cod or raw salmon, find those stray kitties, and start building your purrfect Minecraft cat colony! Explore other game-based learning opportunities via the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Their work demonstrates the powerful connection between video games and educational outcomes. Embrace the possibilities!