OSRS How to Choose Kitten Color Guide for Players

OSRS How to Choose Kitten Color Guide for Players

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), getting a pet kitten is a rewarding experience that adds a fun companion to your adventures. But did you know you can choose the color of your kitten instead of settling for a random one? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about choosing your kitten’s color, from completing the necessary quests to using specific items. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek black kitten or a charming white one, we’ve got you covered with tips to make the process smooth and enjoyable.

Choosing a kitten’s color in OSRS isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a way to personalize your gameplay. Kittens grow into cats, which can be useful for tasks like trading for death runes or completing achievement diaries. Plus, having a kitten that matches your style feels like a small victory in Gielinor. While the color doesn’t affect the kitten’s abilities, picking your favorite adds a layer of immersion and pride to your journey.

Benefits of a Custom Kitten Color

  • Personalization: Match your kitten to your character’s vibe or favorite color.
  • Achievement Diaries: Selecting a kitten color is a task in the Varrock Medium Diary.
  • Bragging Rights: Show off your chosen kitten to friends in-game.

Prerequisites for Choosing Kitten Color

Before you can pick your kitten’s color, you need to meet specific requirements. These involve completing quests and obtaining a key item. Let’s break it down so you can prepare efficiently.

Complete Gertrude’s Cat Quest

The first step is completing the Gertrude’s Cat quest, which unlocks the ability to get a kitten. This beginner-friendly quest is located in Varrock and requires minimal skills.

  • Requirements: None, but 5 Cooking helps.
  • Items Needed: 100 coins, bucket of milk, raw sardine, doogle leaves (or a seasoned sardine).
  • Rewards: A kitten, 1,525 Cooking XP, a chocolate cake, and a stew.

Head to Gertrude’s house west of Varrock, follow the quest steps to find her cat Fluffs, and you’ll receive your first kitten for free. Subsequent kittens cost 100 coins, but you can only own one at a time.

Obtain the Ring of Charos (a)

The key to choosing your kitten’s color is the Ring of Charos (a), an activated version of the Ring of Charos. Without it, Gertrude assigns a random color, which can be frustrating if you’re aiming for a specific look.

Quest Purpose Key Reward
Creature of Fenkenstrain Grants the unactivated Ring of Charos Ring of Charos
Garden of Tranquillity Activates the Ring of Charos Ring of Charos (a)

Tip: Equip the Ring of Charos (a) before talking to Gertrude, or the color selection option won’t appear.

How to Choose Your Kitten Color Step-by-Step

Once you’ve got the Ring of Charos (a) and completed Gertrude’s Cat, you’re ready to pick your kitten’s color. Follow these steps to ensure you get the exact kitten you want.

Visit Gertrude

Head to Gertrude’s house, located just west of Varrock near the sawmill. Make sure you don’t already have a kitten or cat following you, as you can only own one at a time. If you do, store your cat in your player-owned house menagerie (requires 37 Construction) or let it grow into an overgrown cat to free up the slot.

Equip the Ring of Charos (a)

Before speaking to Gertrude, equip the Ring of Charos (a). This charmed ring persuades her to let you choose your kitten’s color instead of giving you a random one. Without it equipped, you’ll be stuck with whatever she hands out.

Select Your Kitten Color

Talk to Gertrude and select the option to buy a kitten (100 coins if it’s not your first). With the ring equipped, she’ll offer a dialogue option to pick a color. The available colors are:

  • Black: Sleek and stealthy, perfect for a rogue vibe.
  • White: Pure and elegant, great for a noble look.
  • Brown: Warm and earthy, blends well in natural settings.
  • Grey and Blue: Unique and stylish, stands out in a crowd.
  • Grey and Brown: Subtle and versatile, a classic choice.

Choose the one that suits your preference, and Gertrude will hand over your new kitten.

What If You Don’t Like the Color?

If you accidentally pick the wrong color or change your mind, you can’t change an existing kitten’s color directly. Instead, you’ll need to:

  1. Shoo Away: Right-click your kitten, select “Shoo-away,” and it’ll run off (permanently).
  2. Buy Again: Return to Gertrude with 100 coins and the Ring of Charos (a) to try again.

Warning: Shooing away a kitten means losing it forever, so be sure before you do this. Alternatively, raise it to an overgrown cat or store it in a menagerie to get a new one without losing your current pet.

Caring for Your New Kitten

Now that you’ve got your dream kitten, you’ll need to care for it to ensure it grows into a healthy cat. Kittens require food and attention, or they’ll run away. Here’s how to keep your furry friend happy.

Feeding Your Kitten

Kittens are picky eaters and only accept certain foods. Stock up on these to avoid hunger warnings:

  • Raw Fish: Sardines, shrimp, anchovies, salmon, or trout.
  • Cooked Fish: Tuna or trout (but not sardines or salmon).
  • Bucket of Milk: Obtain by using a bucket on a dairy cow.
  • Seasoned Sardine: Combine raw sardine with doogle leaves for a treat.

Feed your kitten when you see the “I think it’s hungry!” message in your chatbox, usually every 24 minutes. If you miss the second warning (“It’s really hungry!”), it’ll run away after about 30 minutes of neglect.

Interacting with Your Kitten

Kittens also need attention to stay content. Right-click your kitten and select “Interact” to:

  • Stroke: Keeps them happy for about 18-25 minutes.
  • Chase Vermin: Lets them hunt rats (15% success rate, improves to 70% as a cat).
  • Play: Use a ball of wool or toy mouse (obtained from A Tail of Two Cats quest) for fun.

Neglecting attention for too long triggers warnings like “I think it wants attention!” If ignored, the kitten may leave after 30 minutes or so.

Growth Timeline

Your kitten will grow into a cat after about 3 hours of following you (not in your inventory). You can check its progress by right-clicking and selecting “Guess age.” Once it’s a cat, it no longer needs food or attention and can be traded for death runes in West Ardougne (100 normally, 200 with Easy Ardougne Diary).

Tips and Tricks for Kitten Color Success

To make choosing and raising your kitten as smooth as possible, here are some extra tips to save time and avoid common pitfalls.

Plan for the Varrock Medium Diary

Selecting a kitten color with the Ring of Charos (a) is a task in the Varrock Medium Diary. Complete this early to knock out the requirement while getting your kitten. You’ll need 40 Magic and other diary tasks done, so plan your progress accordingly.

Use Catherby for Easy Care

Catherby is a great spot to raise your kitten. You can fish for raw sardines or trout right at the shore, keeping your inventory stocked with kitten food while training Fishing. The nearby bank makes it easy to grab buckets of milk or doogle leaves too.

Avoid Losing Your Kitten

To prevent your kitten from running away:

  • Carry Food: Keep 1-2 fish in your inventory at all times.
  • Check Chatbox: Watch for red-text warnings about hunger or attention.
  • Avoid Gates: Kittens can’t pass through certain doors or gates, so pick them up to avoid losing them.

Transforming Your Kitten

For a unique twist, you can turn any kitten into a Hell-kitten by chasing hell-rats in Evil Dave’s basement (requires Recipe for Disaster: Evil Dave subquest). Feed it a bucket of milk to revert it to its original color. This is a fun way to switch things up without needing a new kitten.

Choosing your kitten’s color in OSRS is a small but satisfying goal that enhances your gameplay. With the Ring of Charos (a) and a bit of questing, you can have the perfect feline companion by your side. Whether you’re raising it for fun, diary tasks, or death runes, a well-cared-for kitten is a loyal friend in Gielinor. So, grab your ring, visit Gertrude, and start your journey with your ideal kitten today!