How to tame a fox and other animals in Minecraft: a full guide to making furry friends in-game

Minecraft

A variety of animals inhabit the ever-popular world of Minecraft, and some can even be tamed and bred if you play your cards right: including the elusive fox.

If you’re holding a piece of food in your hand, certain animals will stare and follow you in Minecraft. Simply match the animal with a specific food to tame and eventually breed them.

Want the details for each animal, including how to tame a fox in the game? We’ve got you covered. 

How to tame animals in Minecraft

The following wild animals can all be tamed with the right piece of food. They’ll then befriend you and become a domesticated pet. Wondering how to tame a fox in Minecraft? You’ll find that information lower down.

Wolves

Wolves can be tamed by feeding them a bone, after which the wolf will receive a red collar around its neck (which can be dyed a different colour). A tamed wolf will attack any mobs that you attack (except creepers) and its health is shown by the height of its tail – heal them by feeding them any meat except fish.

Cats

Raw cod or raw salmon are used to tame cats, but make sure you stand still when feeding them as they’re quick to run away. Cats scare away creepers, so taming one will keep them at bay.

Parrots

Parrots can be tamed by feeding them seeds. They will then follow you around, or if you walk into them they’ll ride on your shoulder. Don’t feed them a cookie though – if you do, they’ll die. 

Horses/Donkeys/Mules

Rather than using food, these animals can be tamed by repeatedly trying to ride them until hearts appear. You can then ride one with full control, but for that you’ll need a saddle. Slightly annoyingly, saddles can’t be made but must be found in treasure chests. Horses can also be equipped with armour to increase health, while donkeys and mules can be equipped with chests to increase carrying capacity. 

Llamas

Like horses, llamas must be repeatedly ridden until hearts appear in order to tame them. However, they cannot be fully controlled as a saddle cannot be equipped. You can equip them with a chest though, just like a donkey or mule.

How to breed animals

Bringing together two of the same species will produce offspring, but only if they’re both in ‘love mode’. For that, you’ll need to feed them both specific food, which will cause love hearts to appear. Note that some animals must be tamed before breeding.

Wolves (Tamed)  Any meat other than fish 

Cats (Tamed) – Raw Cod and Raw Salmon 

Horses/Donkeys (Tamed) – Golden Apples and Golden Carrots 

Llamas (Tamed) – Hay Bale 

Sheep, Cows, and Mooshrooms – Wheat 

Pigs – Carrots, Potatoes, and Beetroot 

Rabbits – Dandelion, Carrots, and Golden Carrots 

Turtles – Seagrass 

Pandas – Bamboo; additionally, must have 8 bamboo blocks within a radius of 5 blocks of both pandas 

Bees – Flowers

How to tame a fox

Foxes work a little differently to the other animals in the game. They can be tamed, but you’ll need to breed them first.

To breed two foxes, feed them both a sweet berry to make love hearts appear. Foxes can be found in the Taiga cold forest biomes on the surface.

However, baby foxes will follow their parents rather than you. For that, the easiest method is to use a lead to steer it away from any other foxes in the vicinity. Now it’s all yours! Enjoy your new fox pet.

tame fox Minecraft

Minecraft. (Mojang)