How to Tame a Black Cat in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re after a sleek, shadowy companion to join you on your Minecraft adventures? Excellent choice! Black cats are a classic for a reason, and acquiring one in Minecraft is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through every step.

The process of taming a black cat in Minecraft involves finding a stray cat or summoning one, and then earning its trust with a tasty treat: raw cod or raw salmon. Approach slowly, offer the fish, and wait for those telltale hearts to appear! Now, let’s break down the details.

Finding and Taming Your Feline Friend

Step 1: Locating a Stray Cat

While black cats can be summoned (more on that later), finding one naturally adds to the thrill. Here’s where to look:

• Villages: Villages are the most common place to find cats of all varieties, including black cats. Look around the village, especially during the day, as cats often wander freely.
• Swamp Huts (Witch Huts): This is a guaranteed spawn! A black cat always spawns near a witch hut in the swamp biome. However, you’ll need to deal with the witch first.
• Full Moons: During a full moon in Minecraft, the chance of a black cat spawning in villages increases significantly. Keep an eye on the moon cycle!

Step 2: Preparing Your Taming Bait

Before you set out, make sure you have the right “bait.” This is crucial. Gather raw cod or raw salmon. You can obtain these by fishing in any body of water with a fishing rod. Fishing can also provide a great opportunity to learn more about game mechanics. The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explores how games like Minecraft can offer unique educational experiences.

Step 3: Approaching with Caution

Cats in Minecraft, especially strays, are skittish. Any sudden movements will send them running. Here’s the stealth approach:

1. Equip the Raw Fish: Hold either raw cod or raw salmon in your hand.
2. Sneak or Stand Still: Press the “Shift” key to sneak (or stand completely still) as you approach the cat. This reduces your visibility and prevents scaring it.
3. Slow and Steady: Move slowly towards the cat, keeping your distance to avoid spooking it.

Step 4: Offering the Fish

Once you’re close enough (but not too close), right-click on the cat while holding the fish. This will offer the cat the food.

Step 5: Patience is Key

The cat might not be tamed on the first try. Keep offering raw fish until hearts appear above its head. The number of fish needed varies.

Step 6: Enjoy Your Tamed Black Cat

Once tamed, the cat will display several signs of affection:

• Following You: It will follow you around your Minecraft world.
• Sitting: You can make it sit by right-clicking on it.
• Purring and Meowing: It will randomly purr and meow, letting you know it’s happy.
• Gift Giving: Sometimes, when you sleep in a bed, your cat will bring you a gift! These gifts can range from feathers to rabbit’s feet, adding a fun surprise to your mornings.
• Creeper Deterrent: Cats scare away Creepers and Phantoms, providing valuable protection!

Summoning a Black Cat with Commands

If you prefer a more direct approach, you can use the /summon command to create a black cat. Here’s how:

1. Enable Cheats: Make sure cheats are enabled in your world’s settings.

2. Open the Chat: Press the “T” key to open the chat window.

3. Enter the Command: Type the following command and press Enter:

   /summon minecraft:cat ~ ~ ~ {CatType:9}

   • minecraft:cat specifies that you are summoning a cat.
   • ~ ~ ~ specifies the coordinates where the cat will spawn (in this case, right where you are standing).
   • {CatType:9} specifies that the cat should be a black cat.

4. Tame the Summoned Cat: The summoned cat will be untamed, so follow the taming steps outlined earlier using raw fish.

FAQs About Black Cats in Minecraft

1. Can I breed black cats in Minecraft?

Yes! To breed cats, including black cats, you need two tamed cats. Feed them both raw cod or raw salmon. Once fed, they will enter “love mode,” and a kitten will spawn shortly after.

2. Do black cats despawn in Minecraft?

No, once a cat is tamed, it will not despawn. They will remain in your world and follow you until dismissed to sit.

3. Are black cats rarer than other cat types?

No, all cat variants have a similar chance of spawning, except during a full moon, when black cats have an increased chance of spawning in villages. Each cat variant has an equal opportunity to spawn.

4. What happens if I hit my tamed black cat?

While you can hit your tamed cat, it’s generally not recommended! They will meow in distress, but they won’t become untamed. Treat your feline friend with kindness!

5. Can I dye a cat black in Minecraft?

No, you cannot dye a cat’s fur in Minecraft. The color is determined by its spawn. There used to be “Dyed Cats” in Minecraft Earth, but this feature was never implemented into Minecraft.

6. What do cats do besides follow me?

Besides following you, cats offer several benefits:

• Scare Creepers and Phantoms: They actively deter these hostile mobs from getting close to you.
• Gifting: Tamed cats will occasionally bring you gifts when you wake up after sleeping in a bed.

7. Can I tame the black cat in the witch hut multiple times?

No, only one black cat spawns in the witch hut. Once you tame it (or it despawns somehow), another will not spawn.

8. What if I accidentally scare the cat away?

If you scare the cat, simply back away and wait for it to calm down. It will eventually return to its normal state, and you can try approaching again. Patience is key!

9. Can I trade with villagers using a black cat?

No, cats cannot be directly used in trades with villagers. However, having a cat nearby can indirectly benefit you by scaring away Creepers, which might otherwise damage villagers or their workstations.

10. What’s the difference between a cat and an ocelot in Minecraft now?

Ocelots can no longer be tamed in the same way as cats. Instead, they can only “gain trust” by being fed raw fish. They will no longer sit, sleep in your bed, or deter mobs, but they can still offer a sense of companionship. In short, Ocelots do not get tamed. You can only gain their trust.

11. Is it possible to have a fully black cat in real life, like in Minecraft?

Yes! While some black cats have other colors in their whiskers, it is possible for them to be fully black!

12. Are cats scared of anything in Minecraft?

Besides hostile mobs, there isn’t anything specifically that cats are programmed to fear. They are naturally cautious of players who move too quickly or make sudden movements, especially when untamed.

13. Can I put a lead on my tamed black cat?

Yes, you can put a lead on your tamed black cat! This is helpful for moving them around easily, especially if you’re traveling long distances or navigating tricky terrain.

14. What are the different breeds of cats in Minecraft?

The cat-alogue includes black cats, British shorthairs, calico, Jellie, Persian, ragdoll, red, Siamese, tabby, tuxedo, and white cats.

15. How can Minecraft and the Games Learning Society impact game development?

By exploring game mechanics, challenges, and engagement strategies in games like Minecraft, the Games Learning Society helps game developers to better understand how to create engaging and educational experiences for players. They can use the insights to create games that offer valuable lessons and insights for learning.

There you have it! With a little patience and some raw fish, you can easily tame a black cat and enjoy its companionship in your Minecraft world. Enjoy your new feline friend!