Cats & Dogs #86: 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 R3C4 and R3C5 means they are the same. R3C4 is a cat, so R3C5 is a cat.
  2. The = clue between R3C4 and R4C4 means they are the same. R3C4 is a cat, so R4C4 is a cat.
  3. The × clue between R4C1 and R4C2 means they are different. R4C1 is a dog, so R4C2 is a cat.
  4. R3C4 and R3C5 are both cats, so R3C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  5. R3C4 and R3C5 are both cats, so R3C6 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  6. R4C2 and R4C4 are both cats with one square between them, so R4C3 must be a dog.
  7. R3C3 and R4C3 are both dogs, so R2C3 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  8. The = clue between R2C3 and R2C2 means they are the same. R2C3 is a cat, so R2C2 is a cat.
  9. The × clue between R2C2 and R1C2 means they are different. R2C2 is a cat, so R1C2 is a dog.
  10. R2C2 and R2C3 are both cats, so R2C1 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  11. The = clue between R2C1 and R1C1 means they are the same. R2C1 is a dog, so R1C1 is a dog.
  12. R1C1 and R1C2 are both dogs, so R1C3 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  13. R2C2 and R2C3 are both cats, so R2C4 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  14. The × clue between R2C4 and R2C5 means they are different. R2C4 is a dog, so R2C5 is a cat.
  15. R1C1 and R2C1 are both dogs, so R3C1 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  16. R2C2 and R4C2 are both cats with one square between them, so R3C2 must be a dog.
  17. R3C3 and R4C3 are both dogs, so R5C3 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  18. R2C5 and R3C5 are both cats, so R1C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  19. R2C5 and R3C5 are both cats, so R4C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  20. Row 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R1C4 and R1C6 must be cats.
  21. Row 2 already has its 3 cats, so R2C6 must be dogs.
  22. R2C6 and R3C6 are both dogs, so R4C6 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  23. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R5C1 must be cats.
  24. R5C1 and R5C3 are both cats with one square between them, so R5C2 must be a dog.
  25. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C1 must be cats.
  26. Column 2 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C2 must be cats.
  27. R6C1 and R6C2 are both cats, so R6C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  28. Column 4 already has its 3 cats, so R6C4 must be dogs.
  29. R6C3 and R6C4 are both dogs, so R6C5 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  30. Row 6 already has its 3 cats, so R6C6 must be dogs.
  31. Column 5 already has its 3 cats, so R5C5 must be dogs.
  32. R5C4 and R5C5 are both dogs, so R5C6 must be a cat (no three in a row).

About this puzzle

This 6×6 grid starts with 3 filled squares and 7 = / × clues. It can be solved in 32 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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