How to Solve Cat and Mouse Problem
Master the Cat and Mouse LeetCode problem with undetectable real-time assistance. Get instant solutions and explanations during your coding interviews.
Interview Coder generates complete solutions and debugging hints that you can use while explaining your approach, so you stay calm and in control.
Cat and Mouse
A game on an undirected graph is played by two players, Mouse and Cat, who alternate turns. The graph is given as follows: graph[a] is a list of all nodes b such that ab is an edge of the graph. The m...
Interview Coder will help you solve this problem in real-time during your interview
✨ Get instant solutions, explanations, and code generation
Understanding the Cat and Mouse Problem
Let's break down this LeetCode problem and understand what makes it challenging in interview settings.
Problem Statement
A game on an undirected graph is played by two players, Mouse and Cat, who alternate turns. The graph is given as follows: graph[a] is a list of all nodes b such that ab is an edge of the graph. The mouse starts at node 1 and goes first, the cat starts at node 2 and goes second, and there is a hole at node 0. During each player's turn, they must travel along one edge of the graph that meets where they are. For example, if the Mouse is at node 1, it must travel to any node in graph[1]. Additionally, it is not allowed for the Cat to travel to the Hole (node 0). Then, the game can end in three ways: If ever the Cat occupies the same node as the Mouse, the Cat wins. If ever the Mouse reaches the Hole, the Mouse wins. If ever a position is repeated (i.e., the players are in the same position as a previous turn, and it is the same player's turn to move), the game is a draw. Given a graph, and assuming both players play optimally, return 1 if the mouse wins the game, 2 if the cat wins the game, or 0 if the game is a draw.
Cat and Mouse
Related Topics
How Interview Coder Helps
Get real-time assistance for Cat and Mouse problems during coding interviews. Interview Coder provides instant solutions and explanations.
Examples
graph = [[2,5],[3],[0,4,5],[1,4,5],[2,3],[0,2,3]]0graph = [[1,3],[0],[3],[0,2]]1Constraints
3 <= graph.length <= 501 <= graph[i].length < graph.length0 <= graph[i][j] < graph.lengthgraph[i][j] != igraph[i] is unique.The mouse and the cat can always move.How Interview Coder Helps with Leetcode Problems
Trust anchors reduce friction for conversion. Reinforce undetectability claims, platform compatibility, user counts, and the free trial to remove perceived risk.
See Interview Coder in Action
Watch how Interview Coder helps solve LeetCode problems during live interviews
Undetectability Checklist
Platform Compatibility
User results and traction
More than 87,000 developers use Interview Coder and early launch metrics showed rapid adoption. Social proof signals that this approach helps real candidates land offers across a range of companies.
Undetectability and technical details
Our native desktop architecture avoids common detection vectors used by browser extensions. We provide a clear checklist so you can run basic checks and confirm the app will be invisible during live interviews.
Platform compatibility and limitations
We work with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad and other web based platforms, with a known list of app version caveats. Check the compatibility note and request a browser link if a specific desktop app is unsupported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about solving Cat and Mouse and using Interview Coder during coding interviews.
Interview Coder generates complete solutions instantly with proper complexity analysis, letting you focus on explaining your approach and demonstrating problem-solving skills rather than getting stuck on implementation details during high-pressure situations.
Ready to Get Started?
Download Interview Coder now and join thousands of developers who have aced their coding interviews