Cats & Dogs #28: 6x6 Grid Puzzle (Easy)

easy

Tap a square: 🐱 cat → 🐶 dog → clear

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🐱 3 cats and 🐶 3 dogs in every row and column = same   × different

Use pure logic to place every cat and dog. Each row and column holds 3 of each animal, three in a row is never allowed, and the clues between squares settle the rest.

  • Exactly 3 cats and 3 dogs in every row and every column.
  • Never three of the same animal in a row, across or down.
  • An = between two squares means the same animal; a × means different animals.

Step-by-step solution

Squares are written as R<row>C<column>, counting from the top-left.

  1. The × clue between R1C2 and R1C1 means they are different. R1C2 is a cat, so R1C1 is a dog.
  2. The = clue between R1C2 and R2C2 means they are the same. R1C2 is a cat, so R2C2 is a cat.
  3. The × clue between R2C5 and R2C6 means they are different. R2C5 is a dog, so R2C6 is a cat.
  4. The = clue between R4C6 and R4C5 means they are the same. R4C6 is a cat, so R4C5 is a cat.
  5. R4C3 and R4C5 are both cats with one square between them, so R4C4 must be a dog.
  6. R1C1 and R2C1 are both dogs, so R3C1 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  7. R1C2 and R2C2 are both cats, so R3C2 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  8. R2C6 and R4C6 are both cats with one square between them, so R3C6 must be a dog.
  9. Row 4 already has its 3 cats, so R4C1 and R4C2 must be dogs.
  10. R3C2 and R4C2 are both dogs, so R5C2 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  11. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R5C1 must be cats.
  12. R5C1 and R5C2 are both cats, so R5C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  13. The = clue between R5C3 and R5C4 means they are the same. R5C3 is a dog, so R5C4 is a dog.
  14. R5C3 and R5C4 are both dogs, so R5C5 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  15. R4C4 and R5C4 are both dogs, so R3C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  16. R4C4 and R5C4 are both dogs, so R6C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  17. R4C5 and R5C5 are both cats, so R3C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  18. R2C5 and R3C5 are both dogs, so R1C5 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  19. R4C5 and R5C5 are both cats, so R6C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  20. Row 3 already has its 3 dogs, so R3C3 must be cats.
  21. R3C3 and R4C3 are both cats, so R2C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  22. R2C3 and R2C5 are both dogs with one square between them, so R2C4 must be a cat.
  23. R2C4 and R3C4 are both cats, so R1C4 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  24. The × clue between R1C4 and R1C3 means they are different. R1C4 is a dog, so R1C3 is a cat.
  25. Row 1 already has its 3 cats, so R1C6 must be dogs.
  26. Row 5 already has its 3 cats, so R5C6 must be dogs.
  27. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C1 must be cats.
  28. Column 2 already has its 3 cats, so R6C2 must be dogs.
  29. Column 3 already has its 3 cats, so R6C3 must be dogs.
  30. Row 6 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C6 must be cats.

About this puzzle

This 6×6 grid starts with 5 filled squares and 6 = / × clues. It can be solved in 30 steps using pairs, gaps, counts and clues.

Whenever two of the same animal sit side by side, the squares on both ends must be the other animal. Look for these pairs first.

This kind of puzzle is known as a binary or Takuzu puzzle, here with cats and dogs and extra = / × clues.

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