Trap the Cat is a turn-based logic puzzle where you block hexagonal cells to stop a cat from escaping. Each barrier you place gives the cat one step, so success depends on planning ahead. The challenge is to connect obstacles into a closed boundary before the cat reaches the board’s edge. This version includes three difficulty levels, a daily puzzle, and tools that help you understand its escape routes.
BLOCK EVERY WAY OUT
Read the Board and Take Your Turn
The cat begins near the center of a hexagonal grid. Bright cells are open, while dark cells are blocked. Some barriers are already in place when the round starts.
Click or tap an empty cell to block it. The cat then moves one step, and you choose your next barrier. Interior cells have six neighbors, so check every connection when looking for gaps.
You win when no route to the edge remains. If the cat reaches an edge cell, it escapes. Your boundary can be irregular; it only needs to be closed.
A Simple Blocking Example
Imagine two groups of blocked cells separated by one open hexagon. Blocking that gap joins the groups into a longer barrier. Placing an isolated block beside the cat may simply let it walk around. After connecting the obstacles, check which direction the cat takes before continuing.
CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE
Easy, Normal, and Hard
- Easy: Starts with about 23 blocked cells, giving beginners more barriers to build around.
- Normal: Starts with about 13 blocked cells and requires more independent planning.
- Hard: Starts with 15 blocked cells, but the cat thinks one move ahead.
Fewer blocks can earn more stars. In Normal, winning with 12 blocks or fewer earns three stars.
Daily Cat
Daily Cat offers one shared board each day. Repeating the same sequence of blocks produces the same cat movements, allowing you to refine your approach.
The displayed Par is the fewest blocks the game’s solver found, rather than a move limit. Use Retry to attempt the same puzzle again.
TOOLS AND SMARTER DECISIONS
Hint, Undo, and New Boards
Hint marks the cat’s escape path; it does not select your next block. Undo reverses your previous move, while New generates another regular board.
Keyboard shortcuts include U for Undo, H for Hint, N for a new board or Daily retry, D for Daily Cat, and Space to play again.
Build Ahead and Close Urgent Gaps
Place barriers a few cells ahead of the cat to give yourself room to finish the trap. Prioritize openings it can reach soon, and reassess after every move. A useful plan must adapt when the cat changes direction.
