Big cats are just like domestic cats. Our feline pets have not gone a long way from their wild counterparts. And the Cats slot released by IGT shows you five big cats that prowl Asian and African plains. The slot presents a lucrative Split Symbols feature that provides a plethora of wins and impressive winning potential too, because Split Symbols count for 2 normal symbols. You can also get access to 10 free games with extraordinarily generous reels. The game will be appreciated by high-stake players because of a $15,000 maximum bet limit.

Cats is a 5-reel 30-payline slot that is based on an animal theme. It is supported well by mobile devices because it was designed using the HTML5 markup language. The mainstream computer version has typical UI buttons under the reels, while a mobile-compatible version features big-sized buttons to the right of the reels – they are easily clickable on smaller screens and ensure trouble-free mobile gameplay.

IGT applies a common 5×3 layout in the game, with payouts calculated from left to right on active paylines. Operation of a unique Split Symbols feature enables the player to complete 10-of-a-kind combinations, not five of a kind, as the case is in many other video slots.

Bet options

IGT is well-known for its allegiance to XL bets and focus on high rollers. The reviewed game follows this trend by offering the maximum bet of $15,000 per spin. There is only one adjustable option, a line bet, and it changes in a wide range between $1 and $500. The number of lines is not an option because it is always fixed at 30. To summarize, with the minimum bet of $30 per spin, the game allegedly excludes low rollers from its target audience.

Split Symbols feature

There are five cat symbols such as Black Panther, Lion, Tiger, Leopard and Puma. All of them are the high-paying icons that also need to line up from left to right like any other regular symbols. All of the cats come in two varieties, as single and double symbols. A single picture depicts one animal, while a double picture has two of the same animals on it.

The value of any winning is determined by the number of cats on the payline, not the number of symbols. For example, the player has one Double Lion symbol and two Single Lions. This produces a four-of-a-kind combination. Similarly, five Double symbols of the same kind mean a 10-of-a-kind combination, which is the most lucrative winning outcome for most symbols.

Animal symbols have almost uniform payouts that range between 10 and 1000 coins if three or more matching cats land in a preset payline pattern. The only exception is a black panther. When you get five Double Panthers (this gives a total of 10 panthers), the award reaches a stunning 2500 coins.

The slot also has a typical package of notorious playing cards that come between J and A. They are, predictably, the most frequently landed symbols in the game and they pay out less than animals. Moreover, they are only available as Single pictures (they have no Double counterparts). Nothing special can be said about playing cards. The highest payout is for five A’s and it runs up to 200 coins.

Wild symbol

The CATS symbol is a wild. It performs its habitual function as a substitute. In view of the Split Symbols feature, wild symbols behave in an unusual way. Every Wild appearing in a win position counts as a double symbol. To illustrate this point, imagine getting two wilds plus any single animal on a payline. Since a wild is regarded as Double, you actually get a five-of-a-kind combo, and you will receive a corresponding payout (as if you have hit five matching pictures).

Besides, wilds are considered to be the most beneficial pictures in the game because five of them pay out the slot’s first jackpot of 10,000 coins. If you place the minimum bet of $30 per spin, you will increase your bankroll by $10,000 for this combination. If you play at max ($15,000 per spin), you will become an instant millionaire with brand-new $5m in your pocket.

Scatter pays and free spins

To enter a free spins bonus, you need to hit 5 or 6 paws on reels 2, 3 and 4. Paws can be single and double. In case five paws prints land anywhere on the game board, you are awarded 5 free spins. If you see 6 paws, the free feature will last for 10 spins.

The slot rules read that free spins use a new set of reels for the feature. And these reels are richer than in normal game. No explanation is provided what it means but it is fair to assume that free spins have higher winning probabilities due to a different arrangement of symbols on the reel strips. Anyway, entering free spins, you are almost guaranteed to end it with a good round sum in your pocket.

Summary

When playing Cats, you are going to prowl for the wild awards that are really astounding and unmatched. A Split Symbols feature will let you enjoy longer combinations that consist of up to 10 matching animals. The highest potential winning of $5 million strikes imagination and urges every avid gambler to place more real-money dollars in each spin.