Cat
passiveTameableBreedable
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
The Cat is a passive mob in Minecraft, which means it will never attack a player and simply goes about its own behaviour.
Cats make their home in the Overworld, turning up in Village and Swamp Hut.
What sets it apart is its behaviour: stray cats are shy and run from players.
It carries 10 health points — 5 hearts — and yields 1–3 experience when it dies.
It was first added in 1.14 and has been a fixture of Minecraft ever since.
Also worth noting: Creepers and Phantoms flee from cats.
For many players the appeal of the Cat is companionship: once tamed it becomes a loyal helper rather than just scenery.
Spawning
Cats spawn in Village and Swamp Hut.
Your best bet is to head straight for Village, since that is where it turns up most reliably out of the handful of biomes it favours.
Spawns in villages (1 cat per 4 beds, max 10 per village). Black cats also spawn in Swamp Huts.
Left alone far from any player, wild cats eventually despawn, so use a name tag if you want a specific one to stick around.
Because it is harmless, the Cat is mostly useful as a renewable source of its drops, and you can let a small population breed up over time.
Drops
Killing a Cat produces the following loot:
Every kill yields 0–2 String (always, 100% chance).
In terms of experience, each kill is worth 1–3 XP orbs.
These are well worth keeping. 11 skin variants.
Since every item here is guaranteed, the only variable is quantity, which makes this mob a dependable, low-variance source of what it carries.
Because the Cat is harmless and breeds, the efficient long-term approach is a small enclosed pen where a breeding pair keeps replacing what you harvest, rather than hunting wild ones down one by one.
| Item | Count | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| String | 0-2 | 100% |
StringBehavior & Combat
Stray cats are shy and run from players. Tamed cats follow their owner, sit on command, scare Creepers and Phantoms away, and bring morning gifts.
Its 10 health is modest, falling to roughly 2 hits from a diamond sword.
It is completely harmless and deals no damage, so the only risk it poses is wandering into lava, cacti or a long fall.
You can tame the Cat: slowly approach a stray cat while holding Raw Cod or Raw Salmon. Stay still and let the cat come to you. Each feeding has a 1/3 chance to tame.
To breed them, hand Raw Cod to a pair of adults — they enter love mode and a baby Cat appears, maturing in roughly twenty minutes.
Bottom line: tame one and the Cat stops being an obstacle and becomes an asset you will want to protect.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cat
How much health does a Cat have?
A Cat has 10 health points, which is 5 hearts on its health bar.
What does a Cat drop?
When killed, a Cat drops 0–2 String (100% chance), along with 1–3 experience.
Where do Cats spawn in Minecraft?
Cats spawn in Village and Swamp Hut. Spawns in villages (1 cat per 4 beds, max 10 per village). Black cats also spawn in Swamp Huts.
How do you tame a Cat?
Slowly approach a stray cat while holding Raw Cod or Raw Salmon. Stay still and let the cat come to you. Each feeding has a 1/3 chance to tame.
How much XP does a Cat drop?
A Cat drops 1 to 3 experience points when killed.
What biome is the best place to find Cats?
Cats are found in Village and Swamp Hut, so any of those biomes is a good place to start looking.