How to Grow a Kitten in OSRS: A Complete Guide
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of pets to accompany them on their adventures, and one of the most beloved is the kitten. Growing a kitten into a cat in OSRS is a rewarding experience that requires time, care, and a bit of know-how. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned adventurer looking to add a feline friend to your journey, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about raising a kitten in OSRS. From obtaining your first kitten to ensuring it grows into a healthy adult cat, we’ve got you covered with tips, tricks, and step-by-step instructions.
Before you can grow a kitten, you need to get one! In OSRS, kittens are tied to a specific quest and NPC, making the process straightforward but requiring a small effort upfront.
Complete Gertrude’s Cat Quest
The first step to obtaining a kitten is completing the Gertrude’s Cat quest. This beginner-friendly quest is accessible to all members and has no strict skill requirements, though having a few levels in combat can help. Here’s how to start:
- Location: Head to Gertrude’s house, located west of Varrock near the Varrock Sawmill.
- Requirements: 100 coins (optional for additional kittens), a raw sardine, a bucket of milk, and a seasoned sardine (made by using doogle leaves on a raw sardine).
- Reward: Upon completion, Gertrude gives you your first kitten for free!
Once the quest is done, you can return to Gertrude anytime to purchase additional kittens for 100 coins each, though you can only own one kitten at a time unless you store a grown cat elsewhere.
Choosing Your Kitten’s Color
Want a specific kitten color? Normally, Gertrude assigns a random color (e.g., black, white, brown), but with the Ring of Charos (a)—unlocked and activated during the Garden of Tranquillity quest—you can charm her into letting you pick your preferred shade. This is a fun way to personalize your pet!
Understanding Kitten Growth Mechanics in OSRS
Growing a kitten into a cat isn’t instantaneous—it takes time and attention. Unlike other pets in OSRS, kittens require active care while they follow you, making them unique and interactive companions.
How Long Does It Take?
A kitten takes approximately 3 hours of in-game time to grow into an adult cat, but this timer only progresses while the kitten is actively following you. If you store it in your inventory or bank, the growth pauses. Frequent logouts or world-hopping can slightly delay this process since the growth timer resets its 90-second cycle each time you log in, but the impact is minimal unless you’re switching constantly.
Growth Stages Overview
Your kitten will evolve through several stages as you care for it. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Stage | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten | 0–3 hours | Requires food and attention. |
| Adult Cat | 3–6 hours | No longer needs care; can catch rats efficiently. |
| Overgrown Cat | 6+ hours | Can’t catch rats but can be sold or trained further. |
After becoming an adult cat, it can later transform into an overgrown cat, opening up new possibilities like training it into a wily or lazy cat with the Ratcatchers quest.
Caring for Your Kitten: Food and Attention
Raising a kitten in OSRS is like caring for a real pet—you need to feed it and give it attention to prevent it from running away. Neglect it, and you’ll lose your furry friend!
What to Feed Your Kitten
Kittens are picky eaters but have a few food options. You’ll need to keep some of these items handy:
- Raw Fish: Sardines, tuna, or even karambwanji (stackable and great for long sessions).
- Cooked Fish: Any cooked fish works, though seasoned sardines are an exception—they won’t eat those.
- Bucket of Milk: Use a bucket on a dairy cow to get milk, a simple and effective option.
Feed your kitten whenever it meows with a hunger message (e.g., “Meeeooowww!”). This resets its hunger timer, which lasts about 24–30 minutes before it complains again. If ignored for too long (around 7 minutes after the second warning), it’ll run away.
Giving Attention
Besides food, your kitten craves interaction. Right-click it and select “Interact” to access these options:
- Stroke: A quick pat keeps it happy for about 18–25 minutes.
- Chase Vermin: Let it hunt rats (10% success rate as a kitten), which doubles as attention.
- Play with Toys: Use a ball of wool or toy mouse (from A Tail of Two Cats) for extra fun, though this isn’t required.
You’ll get a dialogue warning (e.g., “Meow…”) when it’s lonely. Respond promptly, or it’ll leave after a few minutes of neglect.
Monitoring Progress
To check your kitten’s status, open the Follower Details interface via the Summoning tab. It shows hunger and growth percentages, helping you stay on top of its needs without guesswork.
Tips and Tricks for Growing Your Kitten Faster
Want to speed up the process or make it easier? Here are some pro tips to streamline raising your kitten in OSRS.
Best Activities While Raising a Kitten
Since the kitten needs to follow you for 3 hours, pair it with low-attention skilling or questing:
- Fishing in Catherby: Catch fish like sardines or tuna to feed it on the spot.
- Woodcutting or Mining: AFK skills let you focus on the kitten’s needs.
- Questing: Tackle simple quests like The Grand Tree while it tags along.
Avoid combat-heavy tasks where you might accidentally lose track of it.
Preventing Runaways
To ensure your kitten sticks around:
- Carry Stackable Food: Raw karambwanji are perfect for long sessions.
- Check Regularly: Interact every 15–20 minutes to preempt warnings.
- Stay Logged In: Minimize logouts to keep the growth timer consistent.
Using the Catspeak Amulet
After completing Icthlarin’s Little Helper, equip a Catspeak Amulet to chat with your kitten. It’ll give cute, childlike responses and even hint at its age or mood, adding a fun layer to the experience.
What to Do After Your Kitten Grows
Congratulations—your kitten is now an adult cat! But the journey doesn’t end here. Here’s what you can do next.
Practical Uses for Your Cat
Adult cats are more than just companions—they’re useful in-game:
- Rat Catching: With a 50% success rate, they’re great for the Ratcatchers quest or earning a Cat Training Medal (catch 100 rats for Gertrude).
- Quest Requirements: Needed for quests like Recipe for Disaster (Evil Dave subquest) or A Tail of Two Cats.
- Trading for Death Runes: Sell it to West Ardougne civilians for 100 death runes (200 with Easy Ardougne Diary).
Transforming Your Cat
Take your cat to the next level with these options:
- Hellcat: Let it catch hell-rats in Evil Dave’s basement during Recipe for Disaster for a fiery makeover (reversible with milk).
- Purple Cat: Complete the Purple Cat miniquest after Swept Away to dye it purple.
- Wily/Lazy Cat: After Ratcatchers, train an overgrown cat into a wily cat at the Port Sarim Rat Pits (it may later become lazy if neglected).
Storing Multiple Cats
Once your cat becomes overgrown (after 5–6 hours), store it in your Player-Owned House Menagerie and grab a new kitten from Gertrude. This lets you build a collection of feline friends!
Raising a kitten in OSRS is a delightful side activity that adds charm to your gameplay. With a little patience and care, you’ll have a loyal cat by your side in no time. Whether you’re after death runes, quest progress, or just a cute companion, this guide has equipped you with all the tools to succeed. So, drop that kitten, stock up on fish, and start your journey today!