How To Play: Cats

Overview

So, you want to become the top cat wrangler in Cats? Maybe you’re tired of watching Fluffy knock over all your fish tokens. Well, you’re in luck! This guide will give you a quick outline of the rules and throw in the best tips for winning. I’ve played Cats with my friends—yes, there was hissing—and I’m here to share what actually works. Read on for real strategies and less nonsense.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 150 Cat tiles
• 42 Fish tokens
• 18 Lesson cards
• 47 Treasure tokens
• 1 Scoring pad
• 4 Player boats
• 120 Discovery cards
• 30 Oshax cat tiles
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Cats: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Unfold the game board and place it in the center. Make sure no one tries to eat it, even if the cats on the cover look tasty.
2. Shuffle the cat tiles and deal five to each player. Place the rest face-down as a draw pile. If anyone meows, give them a bonus cat (just kidding).
3. Give each player a fish token pile. Keep the fish tokens close. You will need them almost as much as you need coffee on Monday mornings.
4. Deal three cards to each player. Place the card deck within reach.
5. Pick the player who most recently petted a real cat to go first. If it’s a tie, settle it with a cat impression contest.

Gameplay

1. Start your turn by drawing a card. Never forget this step. I did once and it ruined my master plan.
2. Play one card from your hand. Some cards let you steal cats, some help you gain more fish, and others just make you look very clever.
3. Spend fish tokens to place a cat tile on the board. Each space costs a set number of fish. Don’t try to bribe your friends with snacks; only fish tokens work.
4. Follow any instructions on the card played. Sometimes, you’ll have to give away a cat or swap fish with an opponent. Accept your fate with grace.
5. End your turn by checking if you have more than five cards in your hand. If so, discard until you only have five. Don’t hoard cards. Trust me, it never pays off.

Winning

1. The game ends when all cat tiles are on the board, or when the card deck runs out.
2. Add up your points. You get points for each cat tile you placed, plus bonus points from certain cards.
3. The player with the most points wins. They earn bragging rights and the honor of being the true Cat Master—at least until the next game night.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If two players reach the same score, the tie-breaker is the player with the most fish left.
2. Some advanced cards have special abilities. Always read them out loud before playing, so nobody accuses you of making up your own cat laws.
3. If a player runs out of fish, they may skip buying a cat on their turn, but they can still play cards. Begging for fish is allowed, but seldom works.
4. Remember: no real cats were harmed during the making or playing of this game (except maybe your pride).

And that’s it! Now you know How To Play cats, just like my friends and I did—after several laughs, fish thefts, and a few fake cat fights.

Best Cats Strategies

Mastering Card Combos: Your Ticket to Cat Victory

Everyone loves a good combo meal, but in Cats, the right card combo can feed you victory. You need to focus, watch opponents, and always think a turn ahead. When I played with my reckless friend Dave, he always forgot this and, well… let’s just say his cats went hungry. Here’s how I beat him:

Chain Actions for Maximum Points

1. Use action cards that let you gain more cats, then instantly combine with scoring cards.
2. Save two powerful cards to play in the same round for a big payoff.

Block Your Opponents

1. Choose cards that steal actions or limit your friends’ moves.
2. Watch what they need and hold onto those cards like a jealous toddler.

Adapt to the Board

1. Switch up your card choices based on where cats already nap.
2. Keep your best wild cards for surprise turnarounds late game.

This is the best way to show you know How To Play cats like a champ. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and laugh when things go wrong. That’s what makes it fun!

Fish Frenzy: Outsmart Your Feline Foes!

Efficient Fish Resource Management makes or breaks your game of Cats. I’ve seen my friends howl in defeat over a few wasted fish! If you want to learn How To Play cats like a champ, keep these tactics handy:

Prioritize Cheap Cats

1. Grab cheap cats first and fast.
2. Save fish for the pricier late-game moves.

Fish Income Cards are Gold

1. Choose cards that boost fish income early on.
2. Play these cards before spending sprees.

Practice Fish Counting

1. Always count your fish before big turns.
2. Avoid splurging unless you have a solid plan.

Keep your eye on the fish pile and watch your score skyrocket. One good round of planning, and you’ll be the cat’s meow!

Perfecting Your Cat Placement Tactics

Mastering How To Play cats is all about smart cat placement. I learned this the hard way when my orange tabby blocked my best spot! Now, let’s break it down. Placing cats well can mean the difference between a happy collection or a mess of tails and paws.

Corner Cats

1. First, fill corners with smaller cats to save big spots.
2. Then, use weird-shaped cats to patch gaps.

Group for Bonuses

1. Always cluster same-color cats to score bonus points.
2. Keep families together whenever possible.

Cover Up Trouble

1. Quickly cover up rat symbols so you lose fewer points.
2. If you can, block out empty spaces before the last round.

Plan Ahead

1. Think two moves ahead and leave space for awkward cats.
2. Don’t forget to save room for treasures if you get lucky!

Final Whiskers of Wisdom

After a dozen rounds of Cats with my friends, I can tell you: strategy matters, but so does embracing chaos. You might plan the perfect move, then Fluffy the cat card turns up and throws everything off. Don’t fret! Use the tips from this guide, trust your gut, and remember, the real secret to How To Play cats is laughing at your mistakes. May your fish be plenty and your boxes ever cosy!

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