How Rare is a Black Cat in Minecraft?

The short answer: a black cat in Minecraft isn’t overwhelmingly rare, but its spawn rate is heavily dependent on specific conditions. Under normal circumstances, cats spawn randomly in villages and near witch huts, with each variant (including black) having a roughly equal chance. However, during a full moon in the Bedrock Edition, a remarkable shift occurs: 50% of adult cats spawned will be black. So, if you’re looking for a black feline friend, village hunting during a full moon is your best bet in Bedrock. In other versions, black cats spawn the same as any other cat variant.

Understanding Minecraft Cat Spawns

Minecraft cats are charming additions to any player’s virtual life. But knowing the intricacies of their spawning mechanics will help you fill your base with the purrfect companions! Cats spawn in two primary locations:

Villages

Villages serve as the most common location for cat spawning. A village needs to have at least one villager and four beds for cats to begin appearing. For every four beds present, one cat can spawn, up to a maximum of ten cats per village. Crucially, the type of cat that spawns – tabby, calico, Siamese, black, etc. – is generally random, unless you are in Bedrock Edition during a full moon.

Witch Huts

Witch huts are another, albeit rarer, place to find black cats. A single black cat spawns along with the witch within the hut upon world generation. Unlike village spawns, these cats are guaranteed to be black. However, these cats are untamed initially and will need to be tamed with fish.

Full Moon Mechanics in Bedrock Edition

This is where the black cat’s relative rarity takes a turn. In the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, the game introduces a specific condition affecting cat spawns during a full moon.

During a full moon, any new cats spawned in villages have a 50% chance of being black. This dramatically increases the likelihood of finding black cats compared to any other time. This quirk makes black cats much easier to acquire strategically, turning a night of the full moon into a black cat hunt.

Taming Your Feline Friend

Once you find a cat, regardless of its color, you’ll want to tame it. Taming cats in Minecraft is simple. All you need is raw fish (salmon or cod). Approach the cat slowly with the fish in your hand. When close enough, use the fish (right-click or use the equivalent control on your platform) to offer it. It may take several attempts, but eventually, hearts will appear, signifying that the cat is now tamed and your loyal companion. Tamed cats will follow you, sit on furniture, and even occasionally bring you gifts! Ocelots can only be trusted, not tamed.

Debunking Cat Rarity Myths

Despite the specific full moon mechanic for black cats in Bedrock Edition, many myths and misconceptions surround cat rarity in Minecraft. Let’s debunk some of the common ones:

All Cat Variants Have Equal Base Chance

Outside of the Bedrock Edition full moon condition, all the standard cat variants in the game have roughly the same base chance of spawning in villages. This means that tabby, calico, Siamese, tuxedo, and other common colors are just as likely to appear as black cats.

The “Rarest” Cat: The Gray Tabby

There’s a persistent rumor surrounding a “gray tabby” cat variant hidden in the game files that never made it into active spawning. While it’s true that such a variant exists in the game’s code, it doesn’t naturally spawn. Thus, in terms of naturally occurring cats, no particular breed is overwhelmingly rarer than another (outside of the full moon dynamic).

Anecdotal Experiences vs. Game Code

Many players report anecdotal experiences suggesting some cat variants are rarer than others. However, these observations often clash with the underlying game code. For example, some players believe Siamese cats are particularly rare, but this is simply confirmation bias.

Spawn Rates and Edition Differences

It’s crucial to remember that Minecraft exists in multiple editions, primarily Java and Bedrock. While the full moon black cat mechanic applies exclusively to the Bedrock Edition, spawn rates, mob behaviors, and even the availability of certain features can differ between these versions. Always verify information based on the edition you’re playing. The Games Learning Society studies these games, and how learning happens when players participate in them. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

FAQs: All About Black Cats in Minecraft

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the black cat in Minecraft, with detailed answers to further enrich your understanding:

1. How do I specifically find a black cat in Minecraft?

In Bedrock Edition, your best bet is to find a village during a full moon. This gives you a 50% chance of any newly spawned cat being black. Otherwise, search for a witch hut, as it always spawns with a black cat.

2. Does the full moon trick work on Java Edition?

No, the 50% black cat spawn rate during a full moon is exclusive to the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft.

3. Can I breed cats to get a black cat?

Yes, breeding two cats has a chance of producing any of the existing cat variants, including black. However, breeding doesn’t guarantee a black cat.

4. Is there a way to force a black cat to spawn?

Yes, you can use the /summon command in Creative mode or with cheats enabled. The command would be /summon minecraft:cat ~ ~ ~ {CatType:9}, where “9” corresponds to the black cat variant.

5. Are black cats more powerful or different in any way than other cats?

No, black cats have no special abilities or attributes compared to other cat variants. They are purely cosmetic differences.

6. Do cats prevent creepers from spawning?

Cats, including black cats, scare creepers away. If a creeper gets within a certain radius of a cat, it will actively flee. This is because creepers seem to release Glutamate, the chemical that is the cause of fear, when simply seeing Cats.

7. How many different cat types are there in Minecraft?

There are 11 different cat skins in Minecraft: tabby, black, red, Siamese, British shorthair, calico, Persian, ragdoll, white, Jellie, and tuxedo.

8. Can I dye a cat in Minecraft?

No, you cannot dye a cat in vanilla Minecraft. The “Dyed Cat” was a variant that existed in the now-discontinued Minecraft Earth game.

9. Where do cats spawn besides villages and witch huts?

Cats spawn exclusively in villages and witch huts. They do not spawn randomly in other biomes.

10. What do I feed a cat to tame it?

Cats are tamed using raw fish – either raw cod or raw salmon.

11. Can I untame a cat?

No, once a cat is tamed, it cannot be untamed.

12. What do tamed cats do in Minecraft?

Tamed cats will follow you, sit down on command, and occasionally bring you gifts, such as feathers, rabbit hides, or string.

13. Do cats despawn?

Tamed cats will never despawn. Wild cats will despawn if you are not nearby.

14. Are ocelots the same as cats?

Ocelots are a separate mob from cats. You cannot tame ocelots in the same way as cats, but you can gain their trust by feeding them raw fish. Ocelots will also keep creepers away.

15. What’s the difference between cats in Java and Bedrock Editions?

The main difference relating to black cats is the full moon spawn mechanic, which is unique to Bedrock Edition. Otherwise, the behavior and taming process are mostly the same across both versions.