Cats Slots Review - Split Symbols, Free Spins & 30 Paylines

Cats Slot - Editor’s Comment

Cats is one of those IGT titles that has quietly built a following without chasing the latest Megaways trend or flashy bonus-buy mechanics. Its core appeal has not changed: a straightforward five-reel, 30-payline format with a genuinely useful twist in the form of Split Symbols. igamingnj.com

The theme is wild cats of Africa, and the presentation does what it needs to do without being spectacular. If you are looking for cutting-edge visuals, Cats will not be the game for you. If you want a slot where the base game can produce meaningful wins through double symbols and double wilds, it has more to offer than its age suggests. PlayNJ

The Split Symbol feature is the reason to play. Every symbol, including the wild and the scatter, can appear as a double, meaning a single reel position can count as two matching symbols. This allows paylines of up to ten symbols and makes even two adjacent cat symbols capable of producing a win when one is a double. The trade-off is that base game wins are often small, and the free spins round can be hit and miss. Cowboy Slots

Where Cats succeeds is in giving low-stakes and high-stakes players a flexible betting range and a mechanic that keeps the base game interesting. Where it falls short is in originality and presentation. It is a solid, familiar IGT slot rather than a groundbreaking one.

What We Liked

• Split Symbols can create wins of up to ten matching symbols on a payline.
• Wilds and scatters can also appear as split symbols, adding extra potential.
• Flexible betting with a wide range of stakes, with up to 30 selectable paylines.
• Free spins round with the chance to retrigger additional spins.
• Simple, uncluttered interface that is easy to understand.

What is the Cats Slot?

Cats is a five-reel, three-row video slot developed by IGT. It is themed around wild cats of the African savannah, with symbols including lions, tigers, panthers, cheetahs, mountain lions, paw prints and the game logo, alongside standard playing card symbols A, J, Q and K. It is based on a popular land-based slot of the same name. igamingnj.com

The defining feature is Split Symbols. Any symbol can appear as a single or a double, with the double showing two cats in one position. This means a payline can contain up to ten matching symbols rather than the usual five, and winning combinations are based on the total number of matching cats on a line. The wild symbol is the Cats logo, which substitutes for all regular symbols except the scatter. The scatter is a paw print and can also appear as a split symbol.

Cats is not a progressive jackpot slot and does not include multipliers. Its appeal lies in the base game potential created by split symbols and the free spins bonus, which can be triggered by landing five or six paw prints on the second, third, or fourth reels.

Cats Slot Machine At A Glance

The table below summarises the core specifications of the Cats slot. All figures are taken from the sources cited.

The RTP of 94.93% is below the average for modern online slots, which often sit around 96%. This is a theoretical long-term average and does not predict what will happen in any individual session. The high volatility means players should expect swings and potentially long periods without a significant win.

Cats Slot RTP, Payout and Volatility

The Cats slot has a published return to player (RTP) of 94.93%, as listed by igamingnj.com. This means that, over a very large number of spins, the game is designed to return approximately 94.93% of all money wagered to players, with the remainder retained by the operator. It is important to understand that RTP is a long-run theoretical average, not a guarantee of what you will experience in a session. A game with a 94.93% RTP can still produce long losing streaks or significant wins in the short term.

Volatility is not explicitly stated in the official game information, but BetMGM and Borgata Online both describe the game as medium volatility. The paytable structure, with its emphasis on split symbols and a top payout of 2,500x stake for ten panthers, supports the view that the game is capable of large but infrequent wins. Cowboy Slots review BetMGM's blog

The maximum payout listed by igamingnj.com is 2,500x the stake for ten panthers on a payline. Borgata Online lists a max win of 10,000x, which may reflect a different bet configuration or bonus round potential. Neither figure should be taken as a promise of what you will win. igamingnj.com PlayNJ

How to Play Cats

Playing Cats is straightforward, and the game is suitable for both beginners and experienced players. The controls are clearly displayed at the bottom of the screen.

1. Set your line bet. Use the triangular '+' and '-' buttons under the 'line bet' label to choose a bet from $0.01 to $20.00 per line.
2. Select your paylines. Use the '+' and '-' buttons under 'lines' to choose between 1, 3, 5, 9, 15 or 30 active paylines. You can play fewer than 30, but all winning combinations must occur on active lines.
3. Check the paytable. Click the information button above the reels to view the paytable and game rules. This shows the value of each symbol and explains the Split Symbol feature.
4. Adjust sound if needed. Use the audio icon to mute or unmute the game.
5. Spin the reels. Press the purple button with the white arrow under the grid to spin. Wins are awarded for matching symbols on active paylines from left to right.

Remember that the number of paylines you select affects your total bet. If you play all 30 lines at $0.01 per line, your total bet is $0.30. At $20.00 per line, your total bet is $600.00. The game does not have an autoplay feature in all versions, so check the specific interface you are playing on.

Cats Gameplay, Graphics & Sound

The Cats slot is set against a backdrop of the African savannah at sunset, with the reels nestled in long grass. The visual design uses warm golden and orange tones, and the cat symbols are well-drawn. The game was originally designed for land-based cabinets, and the online version retains that look and feel. PlayNJ

Sound effects are functional rather than memorable. The game opens with a musical introduction that includes a cat roar. During gameplay, the audio consists of standard slot sounds with occasional cat noises. The presentation is subjective and other players may find it perfectly acceptable. Cowboy Slots

The interface is clean and easy to navigate. The reels occupy the centre of the screen, with bet controls below and information buttons above. The spin button is clearly marked. There are no complex menus or hidden settings, which makes the game accessible to newcomers.

Cats Slot Features

Cats does not have a large number of features, but the ones it does have are central to the gameplay. The main feature is Split Symbols, which is active on every spin. There are no multipliers, no progressive jackpots and no bonus buy options.

Split Symbols

Every symbol in the game, including the wild and the scatter, can appear as a single or a double. A double symbol shows two cats in one position and counts as two matching symbols for the purpose of forming winning combinations. This means a payline can contain up to ten matching symbols, and wins can be formed with as few as two adjacent cat symbols if one of them is a double. The feature applies to all symbols, including the low-paying playing cards.

Wild Symbol

The Cats logo acts as the wild symbol. It substitutes for all regular symbols except the scatter. The wild can also appear as a split symbol, giving two wilds in a single position. This can significantly increase the value of a winning line.

Scatter Symbol

The scatter is represented by a paw print. It can appear as a single or a split symbol. Scatters appear only on reels two, three and four. Landing four paw prints on the grid pays double the bet. Landing five or six paw prints triggers the free spins feature.

Bonus Features: Wilds, Multipliers, and Free Spins

Cats includes wilds and free spins, but it does not include multipliers. The bonus features are described below.

Wilds

The wild symbol is the Cats logo. It substitutes for all regular symbols except the scatter. Wilds can appear as split symbols, meaning two wilds can occupy a single reel position. This can create or extend winning combinations and is particularly valuable when it lands on a payline with high-paying cat symbols.

Free Spins

The free spins feature is triggered by landing five or six paw print scatters on reels two, three and four. Five paw prints award five free spins, while six paw prints award ten free spins. During the free spins round, the game uses a different colour scheme. The free spins can be retriggered by landing additional scatters during the bonus. The potential for larger wins is greater in the free spins round. PlayNJ

No Multipliers

There are no multiplier features in Cats. The game does not include a progressive jackpot either. The top payout comes from landing ten panther symbols on a payline, which pays 2,500x the stake according to igamingnj.com.

Other Cats Features

Beyond Split Symbols, wilds and free spins, Cats does not have additional features such as respins, pick-me bonuses or expanding reels. The game is relatively simple in structure, which is part of its appeal for players who prefer a more traditional slot experience. The absence of complex mechanics means the focus remains on the base game and the free spins round.

Where to Play Cats

Cats is an IGT slot, and it is available at online casinos that carry IGT content. In the United States, it can be found at regulated New Jersey online casinos such as BetRivers, Wynn Bet and Golden Nugget, according to igamingnj.com. Availability varies by jurisdiction and operator. Players should check whether a casino holds the necessary licence to offer IGT games and whether the game is available in their region. We do not list specific Irish casinos for this game because availability can change and licensing requirements differ. igamingnj.com

If you are looking for a place to play, our Irish casino reviews cover licensed operators and their game libraries. You can also browse our slot provider guides to find casinos that feature IGT titles. Always check the casino's terms and conditions, including bonus wagering requirements, before signing up.

Other Slot Games You Might Enjoy

If you like the Split Symbol mechanic in Cats, you may also enjoy other IGT titles that use similar features. King of Cats is another feline-themed slot with its own take on wild cats. Pretty Kitty offers a different style of cat-themed gameplay. For a broader selection of animal-themed slots, see our video slots section. You can also explore Cleopatra, another classic IGT slot with a similar structure and free spins feature.