Cats & Dogs #55: 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 R2C6 and R1C6 means they are the same. R2C6 is a cat, so R1C6 is a cat.
  2. The × clue between R2C4 and R2C5 means they are different. R2C4 is a dog, so R2C5 is a cat.
  3. The = clue between R2C4 and R3C4 means they are the same. R2C4 is a dog, so R3C4 is a dog.
  4. The × clue between R5C1 and R5C2 means they are different. R5C1 is a cat, so R5C2 is a dog.
  5. R2C4 and R3C4 are both dogs, so R1C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  6. The = clue between R1C4 and R1C3 means they are the same. R1C4 is a cat, so R1C3 is a cat.
  7. R1C3 and R1C4 are both cats, so R1C2 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  8. R1C3 and R1C4 are both cats, so R1C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  9. R1C3 and R2C3 are both cats, so R3C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  10. R3C3 and R3C4 are both dogs, so R3C2 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  11. R3C3 and R3C4 are both dogs, so R3C5 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  12. R2C4 and R3C4 are both dogs, so R4C4 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  13. R2C5 and R3C5 are both cats, so R4C5 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  14. R1C6 and R2C6 are both cats, so R3C6 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  15. Row 1 already has its 3 cats, so R1C1 must be dogs.
  16. Row 2 already has its 3 cats, so R2C1 must be dogs.
  17. R1C1 and R2C1 are both dogs, so R3C1 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  18. R3C1 and R5C1 are both cats with one square between them, so R4C1 must be a dog.
  19. Row 2 already has its 3 cats, so R2C2 must be dogs.
  20. Column 1 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C1 must be cats.
  21. Column 2 already has its 3 dogs, so R4C2 must be cats.
  22. R4C2 and R4C4 are both cats with one square between them, so R4C3 must be a dog.
  23. R3C3 and R4C3 are both dogs, so R5C3 must be a cat (no three in a row).
  24. Row 4 already has its 3 dogs, so R4C6 must be cats.
  25. Column 2 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C2 must be cats.
  26. R6C1 and R6C2 are both cats, so R6C3 must be a dog (no three in a row).
  27. Column 6 already has its 3 cats, so R5C6 must be dogs.
  28. The × clue between R5C6 and R5C5 means they are different. R5C6 is a dog, so R5C5 is a cat.
  29. R5C3 and R5C5 are both cats with one square between them, so R5C4 must be a dog.
  30. Column 4 already has its 3 dogs, so R6C4 must be cats.
  31. Row 6 already has its 3 cats, so R6C5 and R6C6 must be dogs.

About this puzzle

This 6×6 grid starts with 4 filled squares and 6 = / × clues. It can be solved in 31 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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