java - Extending and returning values over classes -

i having trouble getting values 2 sub-class. how return values main program 2 other class? classes have hierarchy , cat.java extends animal.java. able values animal class not extended cat class. doing wrong?

main program

 import java.util.*;      public class animalproject {      private static scanner input = new scanner(system.in);      public static void main(string[] args) {      system.out.println("welcome create own animal.");       system.out.println("start typing name animal: ");     string name = input.next();           animal newanimal = new animal(name, 0);      system.out.println("new animal created");      system.out.println("set state of animal: [1] alive. [2] dead. ");     int status = input.nextint();     newanimal.animalstate(status);      system.out.println("print name of animal? [1] yes [2] no ");     int answer = input.nextint();     if (answer == 1) {         newanimal.getname();     }      system.out.println("check status of animal? [1] yes [2] no");     answer = input.nextint();     if (answer == 1) {         newanimal.checkstate();      }      system.out.println("set lifes cat: ");     int life = input.nextint();     // set lifes lifesbefore(). in cat.java      system.out.println("remove lifes cat?: [1] yes [2] no");     while (true) {       life = input.nextint(); {       // call method decrease lifes cat.java       }          if (life == 2){            break;       }     }      system.out.println("check cats lifes? [1] yes [2] no");     answer = input.nextint();     if (answer == 1) {         // return lifes cat.java     } 

animal.java

public class animal{  protected string name; protected int status;   public animal(string animalname, int animalstatus){     name = amimalname;     state = animalstatus;    }  public void getname() {     system.out.println(name); }  public void setname() {     this.name = name; }  public void animalstate(int status) {     if (status == 1) {         state = 1; // dead     }     else if (status == 2) {         state = 2; // alive     }     else {            system.out.println("error setting state.. program closing..");            system.exit(1);        }     }  public void checkstate() {     if (state == 1) {         system.out.println("animal dead ");     }     else if (state == 2) {         system.out.println("animal alive");              }     else {            system.out.println("unkown input.. program closing..");            system.exit(1);     }    } } 

cat.java

public class cat extends animal {  private int catlifes;  public cat(string animalname int animalstatus, int lifes) {         super(animalname, animalstatus);         catlifes = lifes;     }  public void lifesbefore(){     this.catlifes = lifes; }   public void decreaselifes() {      (int = 0 ; < catlifes; i++) {         catlifes--;     }     system.out.println("cat ran out of lifes , dead! ");     // set animals state dead in animal.java }  public int catslifesafter(){     return this.catlifes; } } 

cat extends animal means every catis animal not every animal cat.

so in code did create animal using new animal(name, 0), got animal-object, not cat - walrus.

but using animal newanimal = new cat(name, 0,9) not able access cat-methods. animal created cat, right, compiler knows newanimal told when using animal newanimal - animal.

so might either using cat beginning:

cat newanimal = new cat(name, 0,9); 

but losing of features of inheritance want explore. alternative use type-check , cast later on:

if(newanimal instanceof cat) {     cat acat = (cat)newanimal;     /*...*/     acat.lifesbefore()     /*...*/ }