How To Play: Cats

Overview

If you’ve ever wanted to fill a boat with cats and call it a day, boy, Cats is your kind of chaos. I’ve wrangled my friends, spilled a drink (or three), and figured out how to win. This guide gives you the game rules outline and the best strategies, so you can up your chances of victory. Also, you’ll pick up on How To Play cats like a pro. Trust me—I’ve lost enough times to know what works!

What’s in the box

• 1 Island Board
• 1 Discovery Bag
• 150 Cat Tiles
• 42 Fish Tokens
• 40 Common Treasure Tiles
• 36 Rare Treasure Tiles
• 85 Cardboard Fish
• 150 Cards
• 4 Boats
• 30 Lesson Cards
• 1 Rulebook
• 10 Wooden Cat Meeples
• 12 Family Cards

How To Play Cats: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Unfold the board and place it at the center of the table.
2. Give every player a boat board and two baskets. I once gave my cat an actual basket, which did not help my score.
3. Shuffle the cat tiles and place them face-down in a pile. Put out the fish tokens nearby, even though you may want to eat them if you skipped lunch.
4. Deal each player a starting hand of cards and a pile of fish. Don’t worry, the fish are not real!

Gameplay

1. Start the round by drawing cat tiles and placing them face-up in the common area.
2. Each player picks cards using a draft—think of it as building your hand while guessing what will annoy your friends most.
3. Pay fish to play cards, rescue cats, and place them on your boat. Place cats so their tails do not hang off the edge. They hate that.
4. You may also collect treasures or use special cards for sneaky moves. Use them wisely or laugh as you regret everything.
5. End the round once everyone passes, finishes moves, and has placed their cats and treasures.

Winning

1. After the last round, count up points for family groups, treasures, lessons, and lonely cats.
2. Subtract points for empty spaces and other bad things. Trust me, you’ll notice these when you lose by two points.
3. The player with the most points wins. If tied, whoever did the best cat impression during the game wins (house rule, but recommended).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some cards break usual rules, so always check the fine print before playing one. I once played a card upside-down. Don’t do that.
2. If you run out of cats in the pile, just use a sleeping pet as a stand-in. (Kidding! Use spare tokens.)
3. Follow all How To Play cats official rules to avoid furry arguments and keep your friendship intact.

With these steps, you are ready to win (or lose) at Cats! Remember, practice makes purrfect.

Best Cats Strategies

Mastering Card Drafting in Cats: The Fishy Secret to Victory!

When I play Cats with my friends, card drafting always stirs rivalries and chaos. Card selection can make or break your game. So, here’s how to win that cat fight:

Read the Table

1. Look at what cards your neighbors pass you. This gives hints about their plans.
2. Snatch cards that help you but also block them from others.

Prioritize Your Needs

1. Pick cards that work with your basket and rescue plans.
2. Don’t get distracted by shiny but useless cards.

Plan for Flexibility

1. Choose versatile cards in early rounds for more options later.

If you master these tricks, knowing How To Play cats gets so much easier—and you’ll win more games (and maybe a few friends back).

Mastering Cat Placement for Big Points

Plan for Tight Spaces

First, always look at your boat and see where the smallest gaps are hiding. These odd shapes will haunt you if you ignore them, trust me! Fill them up early before you end up with a sea of empty holes.

1. Target awkward corners first.
2. Save long cats for straight stretches.

Match Colors with Care

Next, group similar colored cats together. Besides earning points, you’ll avoid the shame of your rainbow mess. My friends never let me live that down.

1. Create large families for bonus points.
2. Break up groups if you must fill tight spots, but not too often!

Honor Public Goals

Finally, keep an eye on those public lesson cards. Sometimes, the best spot for a cat is the one that helps you score a sneaky lesson.

1. Balance personal and public goals.
2. Leave space for potential future cats if a lesson demands it.

With practice and these strategies, you’ll master optimal cat placement and soon be teaching everyone else How To Play cats like a champ!

Fish or Famine: Winning With Fish in Cats

Fish Frenzy: Get More, Spend Less

1. Grab fish cards early if you can. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.
2. Watch your fish count before making any moves. I once spent all mine, and my cats went hungry!

Budget Like a Cat Tycoon

1. Save fish for crucial rescues. Sometimes I splurge, but usually regret it when I need one more.
2. Only buy what you need to block others or score big.

Timing Is Everything

1. Spend fish on baskets when you spot the perfect cat for your boat. Don’t wait—or someone else will snatch it first!
2. Balance spending now with saving for big moves later. My pal Brian always runs out too soon. Don’t be like Brian.

Mastering How To Play cats means knowing when to save fish and when to spend them. With these tips, you’ll rule the fish economy!

Ready to Rule the Isle of Cats?

Well, there you have it, my fellow cat wranglers! With these tips, you’ll be snatching up cats and stashing them on your boat like an absolute pro. After a few rounds with my friends (one of whom actually meowed every time she placed a cat), I can say learning How To Play cats well is the biggest key to winning. Just remember: draft smart, place smarter, and never let your fish run out. Good luck, and may your boat never smell too fishy!

Want to know what we think of Cats? Read our detailed review of Cats here