GridMew1Check 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 1. Place one cat, then exclude 2 other cells.Use a middle-row single to separate the ends
Original puzzle gm-5-0009
By GridMew · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 16 October 2026
5 × 5 intro
Read the starting position, follow the deductions, and check the move that is easy to misread.
Puzzle board · starting state
How to approach this board
Coordinates such as r2c3 mean row 2, column 3. Count rows from the top and columns from the left.
The fixed cats at r4c1 and r3c4 restrict row 2 from different directions. Scan that row before choosing among the top region’s cells; r2c2 is the only surviving position.
5×5 · 2 fixed cats · 3 explained deductions. Region sizes: A: 3 · B: 6 · C: 7 · D: 5 · E: 4.
A deduction worth checking
r2c2 eliminates both r1c2 and r1c3. The top row then resolves at its right edge, while the last row is checked independently.
A move to double-check · r1c3
r1c3 is not in column 2, but it touches r2c2 at a corner. Updating only the placed cat’s row and column would leave a false candidate.
Green marks the cell being discussed, not a cat to place. This is the position before step 1; compare the deduction below.
Read the starting board as text
Each line is one row, left to right. Matching letters belong to the same connected region.
B B B A A B B B C A D D C C C D D D C C E E E E C
Fixed cats: row 4, column 1; row 3, column 4. One cat is required in each row, column and region.
Step-by-step walkthrough
2Check 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 2. Place one cat, then exclude 0 other cells.3Check row 5
row 5 has only one remaining candidate: row 5, column 3. Every other cell is excluded by earlier placements or deductions. Place the cat here.
Before step 3. 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, r3c4, r4c1, r5c3.
Try another puzzle
Let the fourth row settle the top edge
gm-5-0002 · 5×5 · intro
Practice single-candidate placements on another 5×5 board.
Read this walkthrough →A bottom-right cat clears a path through row 3
gm-6-0005 · 6×6 · intro
Transfer single-candidate placements to a 6×6 grid; compare how the candidates change.
Read this walkthrough →A shared neighborhood settles the right edge
gm-6-0007 · 6×6 · challenge
Compare this route with shared-neighbor exclusions, and check why that different rule is needed.
Read this walkthrough →