Cats & Dogs #59: 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

A 6x6 logic grid: 3 cats and 3 dogs in every row and column, no three of a kind in a row, and a few = and × clues to point the way.

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

About this puzzle

This 6×6 grid starts with 5 filled squares and 5 = / × clues. It can be solved in 31 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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