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

About this puzzle

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

Count as you go. Once a row or column has all of one animal, every remaining empty square in it must be the other.

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

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