The four rules
Place one cat in every row
Each horizontal row finishes with exactly one cat. As soon as a row has a cat, every other cell in that row becomes impossible.
Place one cat in every column
The same rule applies vertically. One cat claims its entire column, which often creates forced moves elsewhere.
Place one cat in every colored region
The irregular colored shapes are the heart of the puzzle. Every region receives exactly one cat, even when a region snakes across several rows.
Never let two cats touch
Cats cannot be neighbors horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Row and column rules already cover the first two directions, so remember to check every corner.
How the browser controls work
First tap: add an X
Use X marks to record cells that cannot contain a cat.
Second tap: place a cat
Tap the same cell again when deduction proves the placement.
Third tap: clear
A third tap returns the cell to an empty state.
A reliable first-minute routine
- Scan the smallest region. A one-cell region is solved immediately. A two-cell region may block large parts of nearby rows.
- Mark every blocked neighbor. A confirmed cat removes its row, column, region, and the four diagonal neighbors.
- Rescan rows and columns. After those X marks, another line may have only one legal position.
- Repeat before using a hint. Most stuck positions become clear when you reapply every constraint instead of staring at one region.
What makes a placement illegal?
The board highlights both cats when a pair violates a rule. A conflict can come from a shared row, a shared column, a shared colored region, or diagonal contact. Remove the cat that was not logically forced, then convert that square to an X if the contradiction proves it impossible.
Cat Sudoku, Queens, and Meowdoku
These names are often used around the same broad family of region-placement puzzles. Rules can vary by product, so check the no-touching condition. This independent Cat Sudoku version uses one cat per row, column, and colored region, plus a strict diagonal no-touching rule. It does not copy app levels or claim affiliation with Meowdoku.
Rules FAQ
Can two cats share a colored region?
No. Every colored region must contain exactly one cat.
Can cats touch diagonally?
No. Cats cannot occupy any neighboring cell, including a cell that only touches at a corner.
What does an X mean?
An X is a note that marks a cell as impossible. It does not count as a placed cat.
Do I need to guess?
A well-formed Cat Sudoku puzzle can be solved by deduction. Use row, column, region, and adjacency constraints together.
How do hints work?
A hint first corrects an illegal cat by converting it to an X. Otherwise, it reveals one valid cat from the solution.
Ready to place the first cat?
Start with the current daily board, or read the strategy guide when the easy deductions run out.