Cats vs. Dogs

Cats vs. Dogs Card Game - Will dogs rule and cats drool or vice versa?

The Cats vs. Dogs Card Game addresses that age old question: Which make better pets, cats or dogs? According to Google, right now slightly more households have dogs than cats. But it used to be the other way around. Cats vs. Dogs Card Game will let you fight it out and then draw your own conclusion. This game features whimsical dogs and cats of different sizes on 52 playing cards, and plays somewhat like the old card game WAR.

There are 5 cards for each pet and each one is a little bigger than the last. Each of these 5 cards is a different picture. There is a number in two corners of each card, ranging from 1-5 (see image below). The number one card will be the smallest pet, and the size and number increases up to the number 5, which will be the largest pet. The cards are over-sized (3"W X 4.5"H) and will be difficult to impossible to hold in the palm and push off with the thumb to deal for smaller hands. There is a colored border around the cards (dogs are blue, cats are red). 

As the cards are laid down during play, players will determine who gets the set by determining who has the biggest animal. However, if a child knows the sequence of the number 1-5, instead of comparing animals by size he will not have to make a judgment on animal size, he will just need to look for the highest number to find the winner. If sorting by animal, the child may more easily sort by  using the color border, if he notices it.

Object:
Have the most cards at the end of the game. 

Set up:
Shuffle and deal the cards face-down evenly between the players. Players stack their cards in a pile in front of them.

Play:
Simultaneously, all players turn the top card from their piles face-up. If two people are playing, the biggest dog or cat between the two cards wins the two cards. If there is a tie, each player turns another card face-up and the biggest pet of those two cards wins all the cards. If there is another tie, repeat the process until someone turns over a card with a bigger pet. 

The game gets a little more involved if there are three or more players. After all players turn over their top card, if one of the pets is in the majority, the biggest animal of those in the majority wins. For instance, three people are playing and one person turns over a cat and two people turn over dogs. The person with the biggest dog wins the cards. If it is a tie, all players turn over the top card from their pile and place it over their first card. The biggest animal in the majority wins. There are two special cards in the deck with special rules:

• Dog Catcher card - This is the highest dog card and beats all other dogs. However, if cats are in the majority, it loses.
• Cat Lady card - This is the highest cat card and beats all other cats. However, if dogs are in the majority, it loses.

When you run out of cards, turn over the pile of cards that you have won and keep going. Either play for a set time and the person with the most cards wins, or play until one person has collected all the cards. 

The cards are a hair thicker than average cards, therefore, as you are playing and you push the cards to your pile each time you win the cards just bump up against each other. You will have to pick them up and stack them. 

After the winner is determined, they sort their cards into two piles to see which animals he has the most of. That animal rules!

Try this:

• Give the individual all five sizes of one pet and ask him to put them in order according to size. Explain how the game works by comparing animal sizes.
• Shuffle the cards and place the stack, face-up, in front of the individual. Ask the individual to sort the cards by animal, cats on one side, dogs on the other. Sort by separating one card at a time off the top and lifting without spilling the stack.
• Lay the cards face down in a grid and play a simple memory matching game. Take out dog catcher and cat lady.
• Play a memory matching game as above, but consider one dog and one cat of equal size as a match.
• Ask the individual "which pet is bigger" each time you both play a card until he gets the knack of the game.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual form constancy, manual dexterity, coordinated use of both hands, in-hand manipulation, sequencing, number recognition, executive functioning skills, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 52 cards

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