Minecraft wiki entry for Damage, associated text: Damage from attacks or natural causes subtracts from a player or mob's current health. When their health reaches zero, they die. Players can also recover health naturally by having their hunger at least 18 ( × 9) and the gamerule naturalRegeneration is set to true, or through status effects. Most mobs do not recover health except through status effects, but tamed horses, dogs, and cats can be healed by feeding them.