How to Tame a Cat in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Hold raw cod or raw salmon, stand still near a stray cat and let it come to you, then feed it fish until hearts appear. Tamed cats scare off creepers (6 blocks) and phantoms (16 blocks).

What you need

Raw cod or raw salmon (5-10)
A village or swamp witch hut

Step by step

Find a stray cat: they wander villages (villages with enough beds spawn them) and one black cat always lives in a swamp witch hut.
Stock up on raw cod or raw salmon from fishing - bring 5-10, each fish has about a 1 in 3 taming chance.
Hold the fish and crouch or stand still. Do not sprint: moving fast scares cats away.
Wait for the cat to approach you, then feed it fish (use button) until hearts appear and it gains a red collar.
Enjoy the perks: tamed cats follow you, sleep on your bed and sometimes bring morning gifts like string, rabbit's foot or phantom membrane.
Defense bonus: creepers keep 6 blocks away from cats and phantoms keep 16, so a cat at your base is a living shield.
Breed two tamed cats with more raw fish to get kittens.

Java vs Bedrock

Taming works the same in Java and Bedrock: raw cod or salmon, stand still and let the cat approach. Bedrock villages periodically spawn stray cats based on owned beds, while Java villages spawn them near villagers - both end with the same tamed cat.

Versions: Cats date back to 1.2.1 (12w04a), when taming an ocelot turned it into a cat. The 1.14 Village and Pillage update split cats into their own mob that spawns in villages, leaving ocelots untameable.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the cat keep running away from me?

Cats flee if you move quickly, sprint, or look at them while walking toward them. Hold raw fish, crouch, and wait - the cat will come to you when it feels safe.

Do cats really stop creepers?

Yes - creepers actively avoid cats and stay at least 6 blocks away, even mid-chase (one already hissing still explodes). Phantoms avoid them too, up to 16 blocks, so cats protect your base from both.

What are cat morning gifts?

If your cat sleeps near you overnight, it has a chance to drop a gift when you wake: string, rabbit hide, rabbit's foot, rotten flesh, feathers, raw chicken or phantom membrane.