Paint by Paws

About the Game

Paint by Paws is an original nonogram puzzle from Kiwi Cat Games – also known as a picture logic or paint-by-numbers logic puzzle. The numbers to the left of each row and above each column tell you the lengths of the filled runs in that line, in order. For example, “3 1” means a run of 3 squares, at least one empty square, then a run of 1. Fill in the right squares using logic, and when you're done the picture bursts into color.

There are 28 pictures: hearts, fish and bells on 5×5 grids; Kiwi Cat, paw prints and kiwi slices on 8×8; and cat faces, yarn balls and a sleeping cat on 10×10, all drawn by Kiwi Cat Games. Every puzzle has been checked by computer to be solvable line by line with a single solution, so you never have to guess.

A wrong square gets a red X, and you have 3 chances per puzzle. Mark squares you know are empty with an X; when a line is complete, the rest of it is crossed out automatically. Stuck? Use a hint (3 per puzzle). Finish with no mistakes and no hints for 3 stars, and your finished pictures are collected on the puzzle select screen.

How to Play Paint by Paws

1. Press Start Game, then choose Continue or pick a puzzle (it starts at 5×5 and grows from there).
2. Read the numbers to the left of each row and above each column: each number is the length of a filled run, in order, with at least one empty square between runs.
3. Tap squares to fill them – press and drag to fill a whole line at once. Switch to Cross mode to mark squares you know are empty.
4. A wrong square shows a red X; you have 3 chances per puzzle. When a line is finished, its remaining squares are crossed out automatically.
5. Fill every square that should be filled and the picture turns into color – one more little artwork done!

Controls

Phone and tablet

• Tap squares to fill them, or press and drag to fill several. Use the Filling/Crossing button at the bottom to switch modes.
• Hint and Restart are at the bottom. Top left goes back to puzzle select; top right pauses or mutes.

Computer

• Left-click to fill, right-click to cross. Press and drag to fill several at once.
• You can also play with just the keyboard: arrow keys move the pink cursor, Space or Enter fills, X crosses, H for a hint, R to restart.

Tips and Strategy

• Start with big numbers. A “10” in a 10-square line means fill it all; an “8” means the middle 6 squares must be filled.
• If the numbers plus the gaps between them add up to the full line length, there's only one way to fill that line.
• A row or column marked “0” has nothing filled – cross it all out first.
• When you're stuck on a row, switch to the columns. Going back and forth between both directions often makes everything click.

FAQ