How do you breed ocelots in Minecraft?

Who this is for: Minecraft players confused about ocelot breeding mechanics and those wanting to breed feline companions.


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The Truth About Ocelot Breeding in Minecraft

Here’s something that catches many players off guard: you cannot breed ocelots in Minecraft. This changed significantly in the Java Edition 1.14 Village & Pillage update, which completely reworked how ocelots function in the game.

What Changed With Ocelots

Before the 1.14 update, players could tame ocelots using raw fish, and these tamed ocelots would turn into cats that could then breed. However, Mojang separated ocelots and cats into distinct mobs with different behaviors:

  • Ocelots remain wild jungle animals that cannot be tamed or bred
  • Cats are now separate mobs that spawn in villages and can be tamed and bred
  • Existing tamed ocelots were automatically converted to cats during the update

How to Actually Breed Cats Instead

If you’re looking to breed feline companions, you’ll want to focus on cats rather than ocelots. Here’s the process:

Finding and Taming Cats

Cats spawn naturally in villages and swamp huts. To tame them, slowly approach while holding raw cod or raw salmon. Don’t move too quickly or they’ll run away. Once tamed, their collar will change color and they’ll follow you around.

Breeding Your Cats

Feed two tamed cats raw cod or raw salmon to put them in “love mode.” They’ll produce heart particles and create a kitten after a few seconds. The kitten will be automatically tamed to the same player who owns the parents.

What About Wild Ocelots?

Wild ocelots still exist in jungle biomes, but they serve a different purpose now. You can gain their trust by feeding them raw fish, which makes them less likely to flee from you, but they won’t become pets or breed. They’re essentially decorative wildlife that adds atmosphere to jungle exploration.

Understanding these mechanics helps avoid the frustration many players experience when trying outdated breeding methods, and knowing the difference between cats and ocelots opens up new possibilities for your Minecraft adventures.

TL;DR

You cannot breed ocelots in Minecraft since the 1.14 update separated them from cats. Breed cats instead using raw fish after taming them in villages.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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