Trap the Cat
About Trap the Cat
Trap the Cat is a logic puzzle dressed up as something cute. A cat sits in the middle of a grid of hexagons, and every time you claim a tile, the cat moves one step toward the edge. Your job is to surround it before it escapes. It sounds trivial. It is not.The cat moves toward open space, so you cannot just wall off the tiles directly around it — it will slip through any gap. Instead you have to think a few moves ahead, building a perimeter that funnels it into a corner where it runs out of options. Each placement commits you, because the cat gets a move for every tile you claim. Misplace one and the path you were closing opens back up.
What makes it moreish is the moment when a strategy clicks. You watch the cat's path narrow, see it get boxed in, and then it has nowhere to go. Sometimes you overcommit to one side and the cat breaks free the other way, which sends you straight into another attempt. The rounds are short, the rules are simple, and the puzzle space is deep enough that there is real strategy to refine.
It is the kind of game that does not look like much and then absorbs an hour. No reflexes required, no timing — just a small grid, a stubborn cat, and the question of whether you can outthink it before it reaches the edge.
Trap the Cat Beginner's Guide
The cat starts in the center of a hex grid. Each turn you claim one tile to turn it into a wall, and then the cat moves one step toward the nearest open edge. Trap the cat so it has no legal move to win.You cannot just wall off the tiles next to the cat — it will slip through any gap. Instead, work a few moves ahead to build a perimeter that funnels the cat into a corner or dead end. Every tile you claim gives the cat a move, so plan placements carefully.
If the cat reaches the edge of the grid, it escapes and you lose. Reset and try a different approach.
Advanced Trap the Cat Strategy
Think ahead, not around the cat. Walling off the tiles directly next to it fails — it finds any gap. Build a perimeter further out that funnels it into a corner.Claim tiles that cut off multiple paths. The best moves narrow two escape routes at once. Single-purpose placements fall behind the cat's movement.
Do not panic when it moves. The cat always heads for open space, so you can predict its path. Use that to set traps rather than chase it.
Corner it, do not surround it. Forcing the cat into a dead end where it runs out of moves is easier than building a perfect ring.
Trap the Cat Features
- Turn-based logic puzzle on a hex grid- A cat AI that always moves toward the nearest open edge
- Pure strategy with no reflexes or timing required
- Short rounds with deep tactical space
- Simple rules that reveal real depth on replay
Trap the Cat FAQ
Q: Why does the cat keep escaping?
It always moves toward the nearest open edge, so walling off the tiles right next to it does not work. You have to build a perimeter further out and funnel it into a corner.
Can I just surround the cat directly?
Rarely. The cat gets a move for every tile you claim, so it slips through gaps faster than you can close a tight ring. Funneling it into a dead end is more reliable.
Is there any timing or reflex element?
No. It is pure turn-based logic. Take as long as you want between moves — the cat only acts after you claim a tile.
What happens if it reaches the edge?
It escapes and you lose the round. Reset and try a different perimeter strategy.