Catdoku
Play Catdoku online for free, with no download or sign-up. Find one legal spot for a cat in every row, column, and colored region. Cats cannot touch, even at the corners.
Game info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Cat-themed logic puzzle |
| Platform | Browser; desktop pointer controls confirmed |
| Play time | Short puzzle levels |
| Price | Free |
| Controls | Click once for an X; double-click to place a cat |
| Main goal | Find the one valid position for every cat |
| Core rules | One cat per row, column, and color; cats cannot touch |
| Similar to | Sudoku-style deduction and grid elimination puzzles |
What is Catdoku?
Catdoku is a grid puzzle played with cats instead of numbers. Each board is split into colored regions. To finish it, place one cat in every row, every column, and every region. Cats cannot sit next to one another, including diagonally.
Most cells stay empty. Mark an X whenever a rule proves that a cat cannot use a cell. As those marks build up, a row, column, or region will often be left with a single open spot.
The early levels introduce the rules on small boards. A Daily Challenge unlocks at level 21, and Double Cats unlocks at level 30.
How to play Catdoku
- Press Play and open the next available level.
- Look for a row, column, or colored region with only a few possible cells.
- Click once to mark a cell with an X when you know a cat cannot go there.
- Double-click when a cell is the only legal position for a cat.
- Cross out the other cells in that cat’s row, column, and colored region.
- Cross out every cell touching the cat, including the diagonal cells.
- Keep going until each row, column, and region has one cat.
Start by looking for cells you can rule out. Once enough X marks collect in a row, column, or region, the only open cell reveals the cat’s position. Placing a cat just because a square looks promising risks a mistake.
Controls
Desktop
- Click once to mark a cell with an X.
- Double-click a cell to place a cat.
- Click a visible button to open help, settings, or another menu.
Mobile
Only desktop pointer controls were confirmed for this page. The embedded game may respond to touch, though behavior can vary by browser and device.
Catdoku tips and strategies
Start with the tightest colored region
Begin with a region that has only two or three open cells. Check how each option lines up with its row, column, and neighboring regions. One blocked cell may be enough to reveal the answer.
Mark every consequence of a placed cat
After placing a cat, mark the rest of its row, column, and color with Xs. Then mark every neighboring cell, including the diagonal ones. A single cat may clear several options elsewhere on the board.
Switch between rows, columns, and colors
When a colored region gives you no clear move, check the rows and columns that pass through it. A nearly finished row may reveal a cat and settle the region at the same time.
Use X marks as working notes
Add an X as soon as you know a cell is blocked. Keeping those notes on the board makes the last open cell easier to spot and saves you from checking the same possibilities again.
Do not guess in an open area
A wrong placement can cost one of the fish shown in the game. Before placing a cat, check its row, column, color, and neighboring cells. If more than one option remains, leave that area and return after finding another clue.
Look for linked pairs
When a region has exactly two possible cells, keep both in mind. Any other cell that would be blocked no matter which position is correct can already be marked with an X.
Game elements
| Element | Role in the game | Player tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cats | The pieces that complete the board | Place one after checking all four rules. |
| X marks | Show where a cat cannot go | Add them whenever a cell is ruled out. |
| Colored regions | Each one needs exactly one cat | Check the region with the fewest open cells first. |
| Rows and columns | Each one also needs exactly one cat | Recheck them after placing a nearby cat. |
| Fish | A limited resource shown at the top of the game | Avoid losing one to an early guess. |
| Daily Challenge | A separate puzzle option shown on the home screen | Reach level 21 to unlock it. |
| Double Cats | A later mode shown on the home screen | Reach level 30 to unlock it. |
Why players like Catdoku
Catdoku gets to the puzzle quickly. Its four rules fit in a few lines, yet one placement can affect several rows and regions at once. X marks keep your reasoning on the board, so the solution often emerges through a chain of small deductions.
The short levels suit a quick game. Daily Challenge and Double Cats give regular players later unlocks to reach, while the cat theme gives the grid a playful look without weakening the logic puzzle.
More games like Catdoku
Try Arrow Escape for another compact logic game where the order of each move matters. Gecko Rush is a timed grid: drag each gecko through open cells and into the hole of the same color. Size It Up swaps colored regions for picture pieces and rewards careful visual elimination.
Walkable Cities is a quiet browser puzzle with a small control set. 2048 uses numbers instead of cats and asks you to read the grid several moves ahead.
FAQ
Is Catdoku free to play online?
Yes. You can play Catdoku in the game frame on this page without downloading a separate app.
What are the rules of Catdoku?
Place exactly one cat in every row, every column, and every colored region. Cats also cannot touch, including at a diagonal corner.
How do you control Catdoku?
On desktop, click a cell once to mark it with an X, and double-click to place a cat. Open hints, settings, and other menus with their visible buttons.
Does Catdoku require math?
No. Catdoku is a logic puzzle, so you solve each board by comparing rows, columns, colored regions, and the cells around every cat.
Can I play Catdoku on mobile?
Only desktop pointer controls were confirmed for this page. The embedded game may respond to touch, though behavior can vary by browser and device.
Why is Catdoku not loading?
Reload the page and give the game frame time to download its files. If it still does not start, check that your browser allows embedded game content and try a current desktop browser.
Last updated
Last updated: October 24, 2026. Game availability, controls, and iframe behavior can change when the embedded build is updated.