How to Play Cat's Cradle

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Cat's Cradle is a cooperative string game for two players, played with a single loop of string passed back and forth between a pair of hands. Each transfer creates a new geometric figure, and the challenge lies in picking up the string accurately so the pattern transforms cleanly into the next recognised shape in the sequence.

Its appeal is obvious: it costs almost nothing, fits in a pocket, and can be played anywhere with no surface required. Children take to it quickly, adults find it surprisingly tricky to master, and the shared concentration of working through a long sequence together makes it genuinely engaging for both players.

A little history

The origins of Cat's Cradle are unclear. String figures have been documented on every inhabited continent, and the specific sequence known as Cat's Cradle was recorded in English-speaking countries by at least the late seventeenth century, with the name appearing in print during the early eighteenth century. Scholars have debated whether the game spread from a single source or arose independently in multiple cultures, and no firm conclusion has been reached. It is traditionally regarded as one of the oldest children's games still in common use.

Setting up

1. Cut a length of smooth string or yarn approximately 150-180 cm long.
2. Join the two ends with a secure flat knot or reef knot, trimming any excess so the knot is as small as possible.
3. Decide which player takes the first figure. Conventionally the younger or less experienced player goes first.
4. The first player holds the loop loosely, ready to create the opening figure.

How to play

1. FIGURE 1 - Cat's Cradle (Player 1): Drape the loop over both thumbs. Bring the string behind both little fingers and pull outward so two parallel strings cross your palms. With your right index finger, hook up the left palm string from below; with your left index finger, hook up the right palm string from below. Spread all fingers gently. This is the Cat's Cradle position: two X shapes visible at the sides, parallel strings across the middle.
2. FIGURE 2 - Soldier's Bed (Player 2): Pinch each of the two outer X crossings between thumb and index finger of the respective hand. Pull those crossings outward and downward around the outer strings, then bring your fingers up through the centre opening and spread them apart. Player 1 releases. The resulting figure is called the Soldier's Bed (or Diamonds).
3. FIGURE 3 - Candles (Player 1): Pinch the two centre parallel strings where they cross the sides, pulling outward and down, then bring your fingers up through the centre opening and spread. Player 2 releases. This produces Candles: a narrower pattern with two straight vertical strings in the middle.
4. FIGURE 4 - Manger (Player 2): With both little fingers, pull the two outer strings outward and around, then bring them up through the centre. Spread all fingers. Player 1 releases. This produces the Manger (also called the Hammock).
5. FIGURE 5 - Diamonds (Cat's Cradle again) (Player 1): Repeat the pinch-and-through motion used for the Soldier's Bed, returning the figure to the Cat's Cradle shape. Alternate players continue repeating the sequence of figures for as long as desired.
6. General transfer rule: the player receiving always picks up the string before the player holding releases it. Never let go until the new player has a secure grip and the figure has opened correctly.
7. If the string is dropped or hopelessly tangled, the sequence ends. Players may choose to restart from the beginning or count the number of successful transfers achieved before the error.

Winning and scoring

Cat's Cradle is traditionally played cooperatively rather than competitively: both players win by completing a long, clean sequence without dropping the string. For a competitive version, players count the number of successful transfers completed before a drop or tangle occurs and try to beat their own record in subsequent rounds. There is no universally fixed target score; players set their own goal before starting, commonly aiming for ten or twenty clean transfers.

The fine points

The most common dispute is over what counts as a fault. The standard ruling is straightforward: if the string slips off any finger unintentionally, if the inner and outer strings are picked up in the wrong order, or if the receiving player cannot open a recognisable figure, the sequence ends at that point. Accidentally crossing strings that should remain parallel is also counted as a fault, even if the string has not been dropped entirely.

A second frequent question is whether the receiving player may guide the string with their fingertips before making the formal pick-up move. The accepted rule is that touching the string before making the transfer move counts as the move itself, so players cannot probe or adjust without committing. If both players agree a fault was caused by external interference (the string caught on clothing, for example) rather than by player error, a replay of that single transfer is a reasonable and widely accepted remedy.

How to win more often

• Keep the string taut but not stretched tight. Slack string collapses the figure; over-tensioned string makes the next pick-up harder.
• Identify the correct strings before you move. Look for the crossings or parallel strands you need, pause briefly, then act. Speed comes with practice but accuracy matters more.
• Move your fingers into position from below the figure whenever possible. Approaching from underneath reduces the risk of snagging the wrong string.
• As the holding player, maintain an even spread with your fingers so the figure stays open and readable for your partner. Do not relax until you feel their grip is secure.
• Practice the first two transfers on your own by switching between your own hands. Once the muscle memory for Cradle and Soldier's Bed is solid, the rest of the sequence becomes much easier to learn with a partner.

Variations

Extended Sequence

Many experienced players extend the standard five-figure sequence by incorporating additional regional figures such as the Fish in a Dish, the Clock, and the Eiffel Tower. These extra figures are inserted at agreed points in the sequence and require both players to know the additional transfer methods in advance. There is no single definitive extended sequence; players negotiate which figures to include before starting.

Solo String Figures

A single player can create a range of string figures using both hands without a partner. These are not Cat's Cradle in the strict sense but share the same equipment and the same fundamental technique of looping and lifting the string across the fingers. Classic solo figures include the Cup and Saucer, the Witch's Broom, and Jacob's Ladder. They make a good starting point for younger children who are not yet ready to coordinate with a partner.

Timed Challenge

Players set a timer for two or three minutes and count how many complete sequences (returning to the Cat's Cradle starting figure) they can finish without a fault. This variant shifts the game from cooperative to mildly competitive and works well when children want a scoring structure. Each completed return to the opening figure scores one point; a fault ends the current sequence but play continues until the timer expires.

Teaching Game

One experienced player acts as teacher and holds the string open in each figure while explaining what the next player must do before releasing. The learner is allowed to take as long as needed and may ask for the figure to be reset and repeated. No faults are counted. This version is the most effective way to introduce the game to younger children or complete beginners, and most players find two or three slow teaching rounds are enough to learn the basic sequence.

Cat's Cradle: frequently asked questions