GridMew1Check region F
region F has only one remaining candidate: row 6, column 3. Every other cell is excluded by earlier placements or deductions. Place the cat here.
Before step 1. Place one cat, then exclude 4 other cells.Puzzle gm-6-0007
6 × 6 challenge
Take this puzzle one clear step at a time.
Try the puzzle yourself, then explore how the deductions build.
Puzzle board · starting state
Your starting point
This original 6×6 board has 6 connected regions and 2 fixed cats. The smallest region is D, with 2 cells. Start by ruling out every other cell in each fixed cat’s row, column and region, plus its immediate neighbors.
The verified route below uses 4 forced placements and 1 candidate-elimination step after the givens. Region sizes: A: 3 · B: 14 · C: 12 · D: 2 · E: 2 · F: 3. These are observations about this board, not a guarantee that a smaller region always contains the next move.
Read each diagram in sequence. Cats and × marks in the before-state come from earlier deductions. Green outlines identify the current observation. Open the final answer only when you want the spoiler.
Step-by-step walkthrough
2Exclude common neighbors
The cat in column 5 must occupy one of row 1, column 5; row 2, column 5. Each of row 1, column 6; row 2, column 6 touches every candidate, so none can hold a cat.
Before step 2. Exclude 2 cells; then scan for a new single.3Check column 6
column 6 has only one remaining candidate: row 3, column 6. Every other cell is excluded by earlier placements or deductions. Place the cat here.
Before step 3. Place one cat, then exclude 2 other cells.4Check row 2
row 2 has only one remaining candidate: row 2, column 2. Every other cell is excluded by earlier placements or deductions. Place the cat here.
Before step 4. Place one cat, then exclude 1 other cells.5Check row 1
row 1 has only one remaining candidate: row 1, column 5. Every other cell is excluded by earlier placements or deductions. Place the cat here.
Before step 5. Place one cat, then exclude 0 other cells.Show solution · reveals all cat positions
The final cats satisfy every row, column and region quota, with no edge or corner contact.
Cat positions: r1c5, r2c2, r3c6, r4c4, r5c1, r6c3.