QiYi Magnetic Puzzle Cat

QiYi Magnetic Puzzle Cat

QiYi Magnetic Puzzle Cat is a magnetic sliding puzzle, also known as a Klotski-type puzzle or slide puzzle. It is based on the QiYi magnetic 8 puzzle. Instead of numbers, the tiles show pieces of a cat picture. Your task is to slide the pieces around the board until they form the complete picture again. One empty space is all you need to move them.

How the magnetic sliding puzzle works

In classic plastic sliding puzzles, the tiles are held in guide rails. In cheaper models they loosen over time, and the pieces start to get stuck or fall out. In the QiYi Puzzle Cat, a magnet holds the tiles in place. You slide them with your finger across a flat surface, and they don't fall out during normal use. Customers often compare QiYi magnetic sliding puzzles with wooden ones and point out that the magnets are a big advantage.

The picture version is solved a little differently from the number version. There is no 1-2-3 order, so you first have to work out where each piece of the cat belongs. The method itself is the same as for any sliding puzzle: you usually solve it row by row and place the last pieces with a sequence of moves.

Who is it for?

This puzzle is not a WCA event, so it is not meant for competition training. It is great for kids who enjoy picture puzzles and are not ready for a 3x3 cube yet. It also makes a nice desk toy for cubers who sometimes want to do something other than turning layers. Parents will find it easy to explain the goal to a child: put the cat back together. On top of that, its flat design fits in a backpack or a jacket pocket.

Specifications

• Type: magnetic sliding puzzle (sliding puzzle / Klotski) with a picture
• Manufacturer: QiYi
• Based on: QiYi magnetic 8 puzzle
• Pieces: tiles with parts of a cat picture, held by magnets
• Dimensions: approx. 104 x 165 x 10 mm
• Colour: Cyan