Question 1

What is the objective of Cattywampus?

Accepted Answer

Create as many valid words as possible and score the most points. Break apart existing words, meld new ones together, and keep improving your score.

Question 2

How are board tiles and rack tiles different?

Accepted Answer

Rack tiles have a black border and start in your rack.  Rack tiles are dynamic and can move anywhere:  From the rack, to the board and back to the rack.

You can move them between the rack and the board while creating words.

Once you score a new word, those tiles now become board tiles and stay on the board.

Question 3

Why can’t I score my board?

Accepted Answer

That can happen sometimes. Your word may not count if:

• it has fewer than 4 letters
• it's not in the game's word list
• it was already played earlier in the game
• your move didn’t use at least one rack tile
• the word isn’t family-friendly
• one or more tiles didn’t form a valid word

Try adjusting your move and submit again.

Question 4

What words are allowed?

Accepted Answer

Words must be valid English words that:

• are at least 4 letters long
• are family-friendly

Word variations are allowed (for example: PLAY → PLAYS → PLAYER).

Question 5

What are Locked Words & Cattycombs?

Accepted Answer

If a word is made using all one tile color (all red or all blue), it becomes a Locked Word. Locked Words:

• Score double points
• Move to the Cattycombs
• Cannot be reused for the rest of the game

Cattycombs store your Locked Words for the rest of the game. Click on the Cattycombs icon at the top of the board to review the current list of locked words for the game.

Question 6

Are there bonus points?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can earn bonus points for:

• Using all 11 rack tiles in one turn
• Making a word with 8+ letters
• Creating all-new words in one turn
• Locking a word (words made of all one color) scores double points
• Using all the tiles in the bag

Question 7

What is the difference between Catty Classic and Carefree?

Accepted Answer

Catty Classic
 • 3-minute timed game
 • Same daily word trio for everyone
 • Your 11-tile rack changes every game
 • Same board. Different game every time
• Replay to beat your best

Carefree
 • No timer
 • 11 scoring turns per game
 • Each game begins with two starting words
 • Leave anytime and return later — your progress is saved

Question 8

Does the timer pause?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The timer pauses during scoring and when viewing the Cattycombs or Word List.
You will know the timer is paused when the board lightens and twinkling white stars appear.

Question 9

What are tokens used for?

Accepted Answer

Tokens are the game’s currency.

They’re used to purchase power-ups which unlock new possibilities in the game.

Tokens can also be used to play Carefree.  Note, members of the Original Gamester Crew (OGC) play Carefree for free.

Question 10

What power-ups are available?

Accepted Answer

Power-ups give you clever ways to shake up the board.

Time Boost:  Adds 30 seconds to your Catty Classic game so you can squeeze in a few more moves.  Classic allows players to use Time-Boost up to 2 times during the game.
Buy a Blank: Adds a blank tile you can use as any letter to complete the perfect word.  Players can also free any blank tile currently being used in the game by replacing it with the same letter from your rack.  Fun tips like these can be found in our Noggin’ Newsletter.  You can sign up for it at Let's Connect.
Re-Rack: Replace all 11 rack tiles with a fresh set when your rack isn’t working.

Question 11

Why did all the words I created go away when I used Rerack?

Accepted Answer

Rerack replaces ALL of the Rack Tiles, including those placed on the board during that turn, and resets the other tiles back to the words they were in when the turn started.

Question 12

When do I earn the daily high score reward? Can I earn it more than once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can earn the Daily High Score reward multiple times in one day.

First, you must score at least 100 points in Catty Classic to qualify. After that, every time you replay and beat your previous high score for the day, you’ll earn bonus tokens again.

Even though the board stays the same each day, your 11 rack tiles change every game—so every round is a fresh chance to outscore yourself.

Question 13

Why do I get the same 3 words in Classic, but not Carefree?

Accepted Answer

Classic is a shared daily challenge.
Everyone starts with the same 3 words each day, but your rack keeps changing, so every replay becomes a new puzzle. Keep pushing for a higher score and climb that leaderboard.

Carefree is meant to feel… well, carefree.
Each game starts with a different pair of words so the puzzle is always new.
No timers, no pressure, no leaderboards. It’s a playground of new possibilities.

Question 14

How can I get more game tips?

Accepted Answer

Check out Noggin’ News, our quick email with strategy tips, new feature updates, sneak peeks, and insider news.

You’ll even get extra tokens just for joining.  Tap the Let’s Connect icon on the title screen or sign up at Let's Connect.

Question 15

What is the OGC?

Accepted Answer

The Original Gamester Crew (OGC) is Cattywampus’s VIP membership.

Members enjoy:
 • Double the Daily Gifts
 • Free access to Carefree mode
 • Extra avatars and customization options
 • Ad-free play
 • New perks as they roll out

Joining the OGC also helps support our woman-owned indie game studio and the clever chaos we’re building together.

Question 16

What is the mission of Cattywampus?

Accepted Answer

Cattywampus was created to turn downtime into productive play — a few minutes of clever, satisfying challenge that keeps your mind engaged.

It’s more than a fun word game. Its creator, Nurse Adina, believes playful mental challenge can help people stay curious, engaged, and mentally sharp as we age.

Question 17

How can I support the mission of Cattywampus?

Accepted Answer

If you enjoy the game, there are a few simple ways to help us grow:

• Share Cattywampus with friends who love clever games
• Join the OGC to support our woman-owned indie studio
• Follow us @PlayCattywampus on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn
• Leave a 5-star review in the App Store as it helps more people discover the game

Every share, review, and play helps us bring productive play to more people.

Question 18

Can I move tiles back to my rack?

Accepted Answer

Yes — but only rack tiles can return to your rack.

Rack tiles have a black outline and can move freely between your rack and the board. Once a word is scored, those tiles become board tiles, and board tiles must always be part of a word.

Question 19

What is a straggler tile?

Accepted Answer

A straggler tile is a loose tile on the board that isn’t part of a word.

If the straggler is a rack tile, simply move it back to your rack.
If the straggler is a board tile, it must stay on the board — so you’ll need to work it into a word.

Power-ups can be very helpful when dealing with tricky stragglers.

Frequently asked questions