Cats & Dogs #12: 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

Fill the 6x6 grid with cats and dogs so that every row and every column has exactly 3 of each, and never more than two of the same animal side by side.

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

About this puzzle

This 6×6 grid starts with 3 filled squares and 7 = / × clues. It can be solved in 33 steps using pairs, gaps, counts and clues.

Watch for a gap: if the squares on either side of an empty square match, the empty one must be different.

Stuck? Open the step-by-step solution below -- each step names the squares involved, so you can use it as a hint and finish the puzzle yourself.

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