For kids + grown-ups

How to join the fun

The Cat Tales cats live on the family's own Minecraft server — there's nothing to download. One quick setup on the Switch (about 3 minutes, best with a grown-up), then joining is one tap.

What you need first

  • A Nintendo Switch 2 with Minecraft (Bedrock Edition) installed.
  • A Nintendo Switch Online membership.
  • A Microsoft account signed in on the Switch, with multiplayer settings turned on.
  • Dad's computer turned on with the Cat Tales server running, and the Switch on the same Wi-Fi.

One time only: point the Switch at BedrockConnect

  1. On the Switch Home menu, go to System Settings → Internet → Internet Settings, pick your Wi-Fi, and choose Change Settings.

  2. Tap DNS Settings and switch it to Manual.

  3. Enter the DNS numbers:
    Primary: 104.238.130.180
    Secondary: 57.128.153.204

  4. Save. Done! (To undo it later, just set DNS back to Automatic — nothing else on the Switch is affected.)

Every time: join the Cat Tales server

  1. Make sure the server is running on Dad's computer (it gets started with start_server.sh) and the computer stays on.

  2. On the Switch, open Minecraft → Play → the Servers tab.

  3. Join any of these servers: Mineville, Lifeboat, Enchanted, Galaxite, or The Hive. Instead of that server, a list called BedrockConnect will open — that's the trick that lets us add our own.

  4. First time only: tap Add Server, name it Cat Tales, and type in the address and port below. Save, then Connect!

  5. After that, Cat Tales is saved in the list — just tap it every time.

Find the cats

🐾 The welcome six

Six cats are already roaming near the place you appear in the world (the spawn). Look around — they're waiting to meet you.

🥚 Hatch your own

In Creative mode, open your inventory and search "Cat Tales" — you'll find all five spawn eggs. Tame them with a raw cod or salmon (first fish always works!).

If something doesn't work

  • No Servers list trick? The BedrockConnect public DNS might be briefly down — try later, or swap the primary and secondary DNS numbers.
  • "Unable to connect"? Check that the server was started on Dad's computer, and that the computer and the Switch are on the same Wi-Fi.
  • Still stuck? The server keeps a log file that shows what happened — ask and it can be checked.

Grown-up corner: server facts

The server is a private Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server 1.26.44.3 running on the family's Linux machine, on port 19134, in creative mode. It's only reachable while that machine is on and the server has been started — it is not on the public internet. If Minecraft on the Switch updates, the server software needs to update to the matching version before it can be joined again.