Catdoku

Catdoku is a cat-themed logic puzzle that replaces Sudoku-style numbers with feline placements on colored grids. Solve each board by combining row, column, region, and spacing rules until every cat has exactly one valid position.

Solve the Grid with Four Rules

• Place one cat in every row.
• Place one cat in every column.
• Keep one cat inside each colored region.
• Never place two cats in touching cells, including diagonal neighbors.

A 6x6 puzzle in Catdoku, for example, finishes with six cats rather than a completely filled board. Every remaining tile stays empty, so the challenge comes from determining a small set of exact positions from many possibilities.

Turn Eliminated Cells Into Clues

X marks are an important part of solving Catdoku because they record positions that have already been ruled out. Once a cat occupies a row, its other cells become impossible candidates; the same deduction applies to its column and colored region. Adjacent squares can also be excluded immediately because of the no-touching rule. These restrictions interact across the whole board. If elimination leaves a colored region with only one available square, that square must contain its cat. Confirming it then removes possibilities from another row and column, potentially creating another forced placement. Following this chain of deductions is safer than testing uncertain positions, especially because incorrect placements can cost a fish.

How to Play

Start with the most restricted rows, columns, or colored areas and mark impossible cells before committing to a cat. Recheck the affected lines and neighboring squares after every confirmed placement.

• Click once: Place an X.
• Double-click: Place a cat.
• Click again: Remove a mark when needed.
• Hints: Use the available hint system when a puzzle leaves you stuck.

Later levels increase the challenge with more complex region layouts, requiring careful observation and elimination to uncover every cat’s correct home.

Other Games to Try

• Planet Merge
• Wheel Quest
• Flip Spot

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