MEOW #85: Jailbird

[Ergcat]

I believe the cat ( and bird) is Free!!

Good one, Josh!

[CPJohnson]

We will get a nudge tomorrow, right?

[madhatter5]

Yes! For $20

[madhatter5]

Actually going to post now so I don't forget

You will be extracting one letter per 3x3 square

Boggle skills will be helpful

First you need to find a digit between 1 and 9 for each 3x3 square. Then you need to map that digit on to the appropriate cell in the square in a way that should be fairly intuitive

[KayW]

I needed the hints. And I learned a new

[Dow Jones]

The cat has been nudged out of the bag (no birds were harmed during this solve).

[CromsFury]

This was a clever and fun puzzle!

[CPJohnson]

(sigh) I've never played Boggle. Will be looking it up.

[ReB]

Cat is out after playing hide and go seek. The second nudge sent me down a rabbit hole which needed the third nudge to show me the way out. New bird to me. Very clever idea.

[DrTom]

Well I tried every conceivable way to arrange everything and finally rejected my preconceived idea long enough to see the path to a VERY well constructed and entertaining meta. People will see this and say, "Well he had it easy, only 3 letter words". I am here to tell you that it is VERY HARD to use all three letter words, simply because you don't have any room to manipulate things like you do with longer words. If a longer word gives you a funky fit you may be able to replace a letter and get a better word or fit, not so with three letter words.

So, entertaining and challenging puzzle from the Madhatter. Josh you never fail to deliver something new.

[HeadinHome]

Wasn’t able to submit meta answer on crossword.info … but maybe that’s always true? Is that usually the site we use on this puzzle?

Anyhoo, I’ve dm’d my answer to M.H. and feel sure I have it. Definitely needed the nudge to get me out of jail (I was sure I was looking for something else to lead me out). “41-A!”

[Dplass]

After the nudges I've solved it.

This mechanism was brilliant. I don't know how the heck you did it. Just amazing. I'm floored.

[CPJohnson]

Finally got it....needed the nudges. Thanks, Josh!

[Dplass]

After the nudges I've solved it.

This mechanism was brilliant. I don't know how the heck you did it. Just amazing. I'm floored.

Oh, and thanks for the puzzle!

[rjy]

Wow! Nudges allowed me to finally free the cat and I am in awe. So clever of an idea and amazing execution… and as I DM’d to Josh, amazing to have 96 3-letter words and not have the usual obvious suspects appear. Kudos to those who got the full nudge-free aha!

[MikeyG]

Ahhhh, okay! I mean, I'm excited because I don't think I need the third nudge! I'm happy enough that I think the first two nudges did something, and I see something! Metas make me excited, haha. Stay tuned!!

Edit: I have what absolutely must be the answer. So clever and major kudos to Josh for a great idea and for those who got the bird free! Or the cat free. Or something. Some animal is free.

Keep on puzzling!!

[Laura M]

So many metas, so little time, so I didn't give this one a fair shake. I'm afraid that I tend to lightly pass over metas that look "nontraditional" since experience has shown that I'm extra terrible with those. My loss; sounds like a really creative metanism and excellent construction! Kudos to @madhatter5 and solvers!

[MaineMarge]

Josh nudged the cat out of the bag and back to watching the birds out the window

9x BRILLIANT, Josh!

[Bob cruise director]

Very clever - however in the interest of time, I used the spoilers

[DebbieC]

When will solution be posted? Thanks, DC