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How to Tame an Ocelot in Minecraft (2024)

Ocelots are one of the most beautiful creatures in Minecraft. They are majestic like cats and playful like wolves. But, that’s only if you convince them to stop running away from you. So, join us on an adventure as we uncover how to tame an ocelot in Minecraft and bring it home. 

How to Tame an Ocelot in Minecraft (2024)

Taming an ocelot in Minecraft works differently than taming other mobs like the fox. Explore all the sections thoroughly to avoid errors. 

What are Ocelots in Minecraft

Ocelots are feline passive mobs in Minecraft that look like giant cats. They have a yellow body with long tails and brown spots all over them. Similar to their real-world counterparts, they don't attack humans or other mobs. The only exceptions are chickens and baby turtles. But you might be able to save them by learning how to tame an ocelot in Minecraft.

Are Ocelots Cats

As some of you might know, cats and ocelots share the same character model. But, unlike cats, you cannot get any gifts from them. Plus, finding a cat is as easy as finding a village. Meanwhile, ocelots are much rarer and harder to obtain.

But, they do share some similarities too. Both ocelots and cats can scare Phantoms and Creepers in Minecraft. Plus, both of these mobs like similar food and are immune from fall damage in Minecraft. So, you can consider ocelots to be a rarer and less friendly variant of cats.

Where Do Ocelots Spawn

You can find ocelots in the following biomes in Minecraft:

  • Jungle
  • Bamboo Jungle*
  • Sparse Jungle*
  • Meadow (Bug)*

*Bedrock and Education edition only

All ocelots spawn at the world height of Y=63, which is also the sea level of the game. But, their home, the jungle, and its variants are some of the rarest biomes in the overworld dimension. Luckily, our list of the best jungle seeds in Minecraft can help you spawn inside them.

Ocelots Don't Spawn in Peaceful World

In the Java edition of Minecraft, the ocelots are categorized as a hostile mob. This is because of an old bug that developers are yet to fix. But, since no hostile mobs can spawn in peaceful difficulty, you cannot find ocelots either.

How to Tame an Ocelot in Minecraft

Unfortunately, there is no way to tame an ocelot in Minecraft. But you can still make it trust you. Let's explore how it works.

How to Make an Ocelot in Minecraft Trust You

When an ocelot first spots a player it tends to run away. But, you can slowly win their trust and make them stay close to you without fleeing. It is similar to taming a fox in Minecraft but without a tragic backstory.

If you want an ocelot to trust you, you need to hold their favorite food in your hand. The foods that ocelots like include raw cod and raw salmon. Once an ocelot spots a player holding fish within a 10-block area, they slowly approach them.

Then, you can use the raw cor or raw salmon on the ocelot to feed it and win its trust. This mechanic has a 1/3 chance of working. So, make sure you always have enough fish for your ocelot.

My Ocelot Keeps Running Away

Ocelots can flee from you even when you are holding their favorite food. Here's why:

  • Movement: If a player moves their head too quickly or runs towards the ocelot, it scares them.
  • Item Holding: When an ocelot is within a 6-block radius of a player and they stop holding food, it makes them flee. So, make sure you don't stop holding raw fish even after the ocelot has started moving towards you.
  • Attacks: If a hostile mob or another player on Minecraft survival servers attacks an ocelot, it makes them run away.

Once you lose the trust of an ocelot, it takes them a few seconds before approaching you again. Just make sure not to let them go too far.

Benefits of Taming Ocelots

When you win the trust of an ocelot, it doesn't despawn as time passes. But, because the Java edition treats them as a hostile mob, your ocelots can despawn when you travel too far. Luckily, using name tags can fix this issue.

Later, you can feed them raw cod or salmon again to breed ocelots in Minecraft. Breeding doesn't work on ocelots that don't trust you. Lastly, another benefit of taming ocelots is that you can use them on chicken farms to collect meat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my ocelot not turning into a cat?

In the early days of Minecraft, feeding fish to ocelots turned them into tamed cats. But, this mechanic no longer works. Now, you have to tame cats in Minecraft by feeding them raw cod or raw salmon.

Why can't I tame my ocelot in Minecraft?

Unfortunately, there is no way to tame ocelots in Minecraft. But, you can feed them raw fish to win the trust of ocelots and stop them from feeling.

Why is my ocelot not following me?

Even when you win their trust, the ocelots only follow you if you are holding raw fish in your hand. Alternatively, you can use lead in Minecraft to easily move the ocelot around.


Find and Tame Ocelots in Minecraft

With new friends by your side, it’s time to explore the world of Minecraft. If you are wondering where to start there is nothing better than the inviting Cherry Grove Minecraft seeds. They let you have a chance to explore the Minecraft mountains without risking yourself to fall damage. Having said that, do you like ocelots or cats in Minecraft? Drop your pick in our Discord server! 



Udayveer Singh

Udayveer Singh is a contributor to our news feed here at Servers-Minecraft and is passionate about all things Minecraft!