Cats & Dogs #98: 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 R4C3 and R5C3 means they are the same. R4C3 is a cat, so R5C3 is a cat.
  2. The = clue between R5C3 and R5C2 means they are the same. R5C3 is a cat, so R5C2 is a cat.
  3. The × clue between R5C2 and R6C2 means they are different. R5C2 is a cat, so R6C2 is a dog.
  4. R5C2 and R5C3 are both cats, so R5C1 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  5. The = clue between R5C1 and R4C1 means they are the same. R5C1 is a dog, so R4C1 is a dog.
  6. R5C2 and R5C3 are both cats, so R5C4 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  7. R4C1 and R5C1 are both dogs, so R3C1 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  8. R4C1 and R5C1 are both dogs, so R6C1 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  9. R4C3 and R5C3 are both cats, so R3C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  10. R4C3 and R5C3 are both cats, so R6C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  11. R6C2 and R6C3 are both dogs, so R6C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  12. R1C4 and R2C4 are both dogs, so R3C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  13. Column 4 already has its 3 dogs, so R4C4 must be cats.
  14. R4C3 and R4C4 are both cats, so R4C2 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  15. R4C3 and R4C4 are both cats, so R4C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  16. The × clue between R4C5 and R3C5 means they are different. R4C5 is a dog, so R3C5 is a cat.
  17. R3C4 and R3C5 are both cats, so R3C6 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  18. Row 3 already has its 3 cats, so R3C2 must be dogs.
  19. R3C2 and R4C2 are both dogs, so R2C2 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  20. Row 4 already has its 3 dogs, so R4C6 must be cats.
  21. The × clue between R4C6 and R5C6 means they are different. R4C6 is a cat, so R5C6 is a dog.
  22. R5C4 and R5C6 are both dogs with one square between them, so R5C5 must be a cat.
  23. Column 2 already has its 3 dogs, so R1C2 must be cats.
  24. The × clue between R1C2 and R1C1 means they are different. R1C2 is a cat, so R1C1 is a dog.
  25. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R2C1 must be cats.
  26. R2C1 and R2C2 are both cats, so R2C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  27. R2C3 and R2C4 are both dogs, so R2C5 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  28. R2C3 and R3C3 are both dogs, so R1C3 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  29. R2C5 and R3C5 are both cats, so R1C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  30. R1C4 and R1C5 are both dogs, so R1C6 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  31. Row 2 already has its 3 cats, so R2C6 must be dogs.
  32. Column 5 already has its 3 cats, so R6C5 must be dogs.
  33. Row 6 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C6 must be cats.

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.

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.

Every puzzle on this site has exactly one solution that can be reached by deduction. If you are guessing, look again at the rows and columns that are nearly full.

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