[Update 29th August 2021: Edited fish section and credits] [Update 30th September 2021: Updated fishing section based on the new info, and made changes to the route to reflect this. Added item maps. Other tweaks to various sections.]

These are the run notes I made in preparation for my 100% speedrun of Petz Catz/Dogz 2, along with a bunch of useful infomation for anyone interested in trying it for themselves - if there are any such people out there. Hopefully it helps someone out! The way this is written assumes some familiarity with the main game/any% playthrough. This is likely still flawed, so please feel free to make your own improvements. also pretty messy and disorganised. sorry

Routed and written up by me (Winter Doggo). Collection of data, figuring out setups and such was done with help from Frogremy33 and green man from the Petz Catz/Dogz 2 discord server. Thanks so much to them!

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Useful InfoTM

First off, a lot of the info on https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Petz:_Dogz_2_and_Catz_2/Walkthrough can prove useful, especially the pages on bugs and fish. If you need info on something, you might be able to find some here.

THE MAGIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: A lot of the work in this run goes to this. It has 4 sections - fruit & vegetables, flowers, insects and fish. You have to collect every item to complete it. Once you pick an item up, it'll be registered into here.

Insects: Whenever you enter an area, it has a randomly chosen "Bug Setup". This means a specific, predetermined set of bugs will appear in the area. For example, if you're in Jade Fields and find a cabbage white butterfly before the second bridge, then you're guaranteed to find a red dragonfly at the log where the boar appears. Using this, it can be very easy to know if you can get the bugs you need or if you need to re-enter the area sometime. It's important to note that, if you're playing Dogz, you won't need to catch any of the Jade Fields bugs while in Jade Fields because you'll get them from Marin's quest. Every area has 3 bug setups except whisker woods and the zoo, which have 4 and 2 respectively.

This page contains every bug setup https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Petz:_Dogz_2_and_Catz_2/Bugs

Sniffable items (fruit & vegetables, flowers): In my and Frogremy33's testing, we couldn't find any evidence of Food/Flower setups (where one or two item placements could tell you where all the others are). Items DO have predetermined spots where they have a chance to appear every reload, though. It also appears that that that in most - if not all - cases, an item not being at one spot means it will appear at another spot. I've made maps showing these spots here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TrzPDvASV7OWtbT_y7A1oiPSoBLpoGBgAj2XaiRSb5k/edit?usp=drivesdk

I still do think it's worthwhile to do your own practice, but having this stuff handy should prove useful!

Some items of note- Lychee (It's in Inferno Cave. you can't get this on your first visit. There are two spots - one behind the four-paw push rock, and one behind the cool stone magma, which require story progress or a visit to polar fields respectively.) Orchid (appears on an island in Sky Heights. You'll need to swim through the deep bog to get it) Rosemary (always behind the wild lion in Gongoro Peak. First, approach the lion and Beat will explain that it isn't moving - do this first, because otherwise it'll get rid of your held stone when you trigger the text. Then, go get a stone and throw it at the lion to lure it out and you can get past and get the Rosemary)

Prairie Dogs: are in 3 places in this game- Jade Fields far southeast corner, Dolphin Coast northwest sand, and Lonesome Park northwest "circle". I've marked them on the item maps. The first time you get too close to one, regardless of what you're doing, you will be stopped and Beat will waste 15 seconds explaining what they do. After the first time, they'll only interrupt you if you're sniffing. Generally a nuisance but, on the plus side, you can avoid them easily after your first encounter.

Fish: Fish make up the bulk of the run because there are a large number of rare, area-exclusive fish. I'm so sorry. All fishing is completely RNG. Sometimes you might spend forever trying to catch the last fish you need in the area, only to have to do it all over again in the next area, and that's just how the cookie crumbles. The good thing is that once you have the rarest fish you probably have many fish shared with other areas left over- the first time I 100% completed the game casually, I never had to fish in Tail Heights, because it shares all its fish with other areas.

Some very small fish can be landed with constant big pulls, because they're so easy that the line will never reach "too tight". Very large fish seem to go on a see-saw. If it's close to the tight end, it'll move towards that end more easily. Same with loose end, and trust me, keeping it away from the loose end is a good idea. The safest method is to bring it towards the tight end then be gentle until it starts fighting back. Fishing is slightly more efficient before the Aquarium is fixed, since there's no aquarium prompt, and you can just press A right into the next cast.

Finally, in my route I've listed all the fish at what I've decided is the most convenient place to catch it. If you already have a fish from earlier, but then reach the point in this route that asks you to fish for it, skip that one and just catch the others.

Fish chances and "Exclusive fish"-

When you enter an area, the game will randomly pick a table of chances for what fish it'll give you - each area has 4 tables to choose from. In some cases, a table renders something completely unavailable until you reset the area. Here's a spreadsheet of every fishing table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FfAg6qm_FDZlUl0SvoC4RgJE6RF1ko447YRXytijoT8/edit?usp=drivesdk

You can usually determine the table you're on - or at least eliminate some possibilities - depending on the fish you catch. Since these tables also determine the length of fish you're able to get, knowing lengths can help further (although I haven't got every length down yet). To avoid clutter and confusion I'm not listing absolutely everything in "The Run" section, but it will have some advice on this as well.

In an any% run, Dogz is slightly faster than Catz because you need an apple pie for the Legendary Pattern instead of a cherry pie, and apples are slightly faster to find. However, in 100%, this is less major, since you'll need both anyway. The main version difference instead comes from…

Optional quests: There are 5 sidequests in the game, and 3 of these change slightly depending on your version. Charles 1 (Lava Stone/Driftwood): find the item in whisker woods between the Roaring Falls and the ramp up to the place you use the Hot Stone. Although the item differs depending on your version, the quest is effectively the same, as you find the item in the same spot. Charles 2 (Polar Fishing): Catch a Golden Angler Fish (Catz) or New Breed Rainbow Fish (Dogz) and deliver it to Charles. You'll have to catch both for the Magic Encyclopedia, so these are also effectively the same for our purposes.

Charlotte: Asks for 10 each of "special" Watermelons, Mangoes and Pineapples. Gives 1 extra heart as a reward. Ambrose: Asks for 10 each of "special" Potatoes, Carrots and Tomatoes. Gives 1 extra heart as a reward. When you dig up the above items at any spot, they have a chance of being "special" - you just have to dig up a bunch over and over again to get the 10 required. Please please please KEEP COUNT because the game doesn't tell you when you've got enough. These special items will only appear after accepting the quests, so don't bother looking for these items before then. I chose the following places to grind special food: For watermelon & tomatoes, Jade Fields (after getting max rock strength, run between Pawville and Lonesome Park to reload the area. There are two watermelon spots, one next to Lonesome Park entrance, one on the Pig "island", and there are two Tomato spots, one in a grass patch next to the sea pier and one next to the northmost bear) For Mango and Pineapple, sail between Dolphin Coast and Monolith Isle (at Dolphin Coast, there's 1 pineapple spot and 3 mango spots; at Monolith Isle, 2 Mango and 4 Pineapple spots) For Carrot and Potato, Crystal Caverns (you can easily grind the potato spot next to polar fields entrance by reloading, tossing a rock at the snake and sniffing a moment. There's a carrot next to the purple snake nearby you can get at the same time, etc)

Island Hideout: There's a character at Jade Fields - a cat named Maria or a dog named Marin - who will bring you to a special area for a special quest. In Catz, you need to fish up 8 different fish, including a Sunfish. In Dogz, you'll need to catch 6 specific bugs on the island. In Dogz, the bugs are all Jade Fields bugs and no fish. In Catz, there are no bugs but a variety of fish. This is probably the only quest where the difference between Catz and Dogz actually matters. Finding the bugs is a bit faster than going through more RNG fishing (especially after a bit of practice at finding them) and to be honest, the variety is a good thing in a run that's already stuffed full of fishing. Not to mention, because of the way the bug system works vs the fishing system, it's way easier to avoid wasting time on duplicates. Because of this, "The Run" section is better structured towards Dogz. If you're using Catz, then the following fish will have to be caught here: Mullet, Goby, Grunt, Flatfish, Sea Bass, Spanish Mackarel, Bonito, Sunfish So don't put effort into catching these in other areas.

• Other useful things - Generally, you're better off picking up items when they're convenient. For example, the Golden Dragonfly in Whisker Woods appears right next to Saul, who will teleport you back to Pawville after completing his quest, so getting the golden dragonfly at that point rather than later is a good idea. I'll try to mark the final time you're required to visit an area, so you know that if you've missed out on something before now, then you should get it.

Preferably, have a list handy of the items you need to mark them off so you don't have to waste time checking the encyclopedia (though at the end, maybe double check it to be sure and to prove you have everything). You'll also know when you have every item from a single category because you'll get the clothing reward in black.

Finally, this should be pretty obvious but practice beforehand! Practice fishing, memorise items and bugs, practice the minigames, and probably do that better than I did when I first tried this, because how obvious is it that i have the organisation skills and attention span of a potato Trust me, this run isn't as scary as it looks, or at least it wasn't for me. Might be for you. I guess you won't know until you try, huh? :)

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MINIGAMES

Losing will boot you out of the game and make you talk to the animal all over again. Instead, if things look bad, pause before you finish and press the reset option, and it'll start over right away.

Lappy Lake - Dodgeball (Monkey) The important part about this game is that you outscore your opponent. Since the game runs for a set amount of time, no amount of strength at this game will make it go faster, so try to dodge their throws (pretty easy) then retaliate with your own when they have to go refill. Just spam throwing balls also works, but is a lot more risky and I'd reccomend just being patient.

Tail Heights - Ring Toss (Giraffe) Just get the hang of aiming slightly ahead of where the giraffe is walking and you'll easily go double over the score required to win. Remember - it's easier to hit the giraffe while it's stopped, but you can still hit it at any time.

Dolphin Coast - Sled Pull (Elephant)

Different terrain has different timings. Red timing is fastest. Grass is bad but you have no choice to enter it at the end. Go fast little kitten/puppy

Monolith Isle - Fruit Catch (Gorilla) It's hard to judge if you're actually standing under an item at first. All you can really do is practice until you've got the hang of it. Another timed one that you can't really save on.

Whisker Woods - Fishing Battle (Bear) It's fishing. That's it. You need a fresh brook trout (the bear will refuse to take one caught before you started their quest), but there's no time limit so long as you don't leave the area.

Whisker Woods - Treasure Hunt (Kiwi) Just a game of knowing the sniffing gauge. The kiwi moves slowly. Timed minigame, so no timesave from playing well, just extra security that the kiwi won't get lucky and catch up.

Jade Fields - Rodeo (Vulture) Not much to this other than having a good reaction time. Make sure you don't accidentally go up when you mean to go up-left, right when you mean to go down-right, etc. This minigame gets easier once you get the ball rolling.

Jade Fields - Flag Race (Boar) Haven't tested the exact fastest route. Just go whatever way you want to that isn't too long - it shouldn't be too difficult to win.

Polar Fields - Curling (Penguin) This controls pretty awkwardly, but the good thing is the penguin's performance seems to be loosely based on yours. Remember that you have to point the Wii Remote down to start charging up if you're on the Wii version.

Gongoro Peak - Hockey (Lion) Another time limited game, except either side scoring a goal pauses the timer, so allowing less scoring is better. Unfortunately, this means you have to keep pretty good control of the puck, because the lion will try to score (and if you push it towards their goal, they pretty often score for you in their own goal by accident). Try to keep one or two ahead to be safe.

Sky Heights - Barrel Ride (Panda) Holding B in one direction will easily send you off balance that way, often bringing you into an awkward dance between each side. I find mashing B when you're near the middle is a good way of keeping fairly centred.

Lonesome Park - Chicken Race (Buffalo) Just gotta get a feel for this one really Like with Sled Race, if you're not comfortable with your score or are beaten, you can pause and reset to avoid being booted out

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THE RUN

• DOLPHIN COAST 1 (Victor) - You can't catch anything other than sardines right now, so don't keep fishing here until later.

• PAWVILLE 1 (Donuts) - Before you talk to Tom, fish for: Grunt Sea Bass Octopus Squid Other exclusive fish you'll need from here are Stonefish, Goatfish and Sole. Be aware that no fishing setup contains all three, so you'll have to come back later no matter what.

• Lappy Lake 1 (Cotton) - Search for pear on the middle island.

• Jade Fields 1 (Chamomile) - Complete as normal. When you get back to Tom and he gives you the Saul quest, check the pier again for exclusive(s) you missed.

When heading to Whisker Woods, accept Charlotte and Ambrose quests.

• Whisker Woods 1 (Saul) - Get Apple (Dogz)/Cherries (Catz) now. Check for golden dragonfly before talking to Saul.

• Jade Fields 2 (Clay, then Sai discussions) - Do a full sweep of the area for digglable items and special fruit.

At the river pier, FISH for: Carp Grass Carp Starry Flounder Pale Chub Sweetfish

At the ocean pier, FISH for: Mullet Red Sea Bream

Get an antidote in the police station?

• Lappy Lake 2 (Sai) - Complete as normal.

• Whisker Woods 2 (Signwood) - If you don't have cherries or lavender and they appear close to signwood place, get them

• Dolphin Coast 2 (Warren) - Remember to skip 2nd Godfrey talk and head straight to Arvin after first talk with Stanley. Sweep for special fruit if you'd like - if you do, good time to get prairie dog over with if you expect it to interrupt you later.

• Jade Fields 3 (Male Insect) - A very good time for a full sweep for special fruit

• Sai Call Quest - Complete as normal. Once done, call the hippo and fish for: Killifish Golden Killifish

• Whisker Woods 3 (Hot Spring) - You can get green apple and giant birdwing close to bear sometimes.

• Dolphin Coast 3 (Augusta) - Complete as normal, collect Charles quest, then engage Zoo Quest and talk to Stanley, talk to Warren. Dolphin Coast Land pier- FISH for: Goby Blowfish Sillago Flatfish

• Whisker Woods 4 (Female Insect) - 2nd chance for birdwing.

• Jade Fields 4 (Ada) - Don't get zoo or hideout stuff yet. Just get pig and move on.

• Dolphin Coast 3 (Augusta and Rain) - After finishing Augusta, get rain. Skip Clara and Warren's advice (you don't need them) and head straight to island.

FISH for: Swordfish Golden Swordfish Bonito Spanish Mackarel Tuna Striped Mackarel

Check for Papaya if you don't have one!

• TAIL HEIGHTS - For safety: buy lots of healing items? Get Monkey when going to tail heights. Upon entering Tail Heights, turn right and fish to check your RNG. If you're on table 3 or 4, fish for: Marbled Lungfish Regardless of the table you're on, fish for Silverside.

When heading through Tail Heights, grab Giraffe. When returning to Warren, sweep for special fruit and get Elephant on the way there/way back.

• SKY HEIGHTS 1 - After rushing through the bog, get Orchid (consistent and you're already poisoned anyway) then head to Theophilus (you can use antidote if you want to clear rest of area for items, or just save them for later)

• Monolith Isle (Mirror) - Fish for: Butterfly Fish Striped Beakperch Napoleon Fish (setup exclusive!!) Ray Barracuda Sea Horse Clown Fish Sunfish (also setup exclusive) Golden Sunfish

Get now: Lily, Amyrallis, Kiwi, Sweetie, Durian Great orange tip, blue moon butterfly, red butterfly

Save the Gorilla until after you've picked up diggable items, but before you pick up the mirror - If you're missing any items, you can grab the gorilla and it'll reload the area Still need to reset? Sail back to Dolphin Coast and grab some special mangoes/pineapples to hit 2 birds with one stone!

• WHISKER WOODS FINAL - Head west to get zoo bear and start FISHING: Pale Chub Bitterling Brook Trout Golden Carp

grab items you still need. Use the hot spring, then grab kiwi

• CRYSTAL CAVERNS 1 - Get butterfly from the non-inferno pushable rock. Get the Earth Crystal

• CRYSTAL CAVERNS 2 - Teleport to Inferno Cave as a shortcut. Head through as normal, clearing the hedgehog call and getting birdwing butterfly along the way.

• POLAR FIELDS - Zoo penguin is here. Grind for special potatoes and carrots now. While going through Crystal Caverns, Get the driftwood/lava stone from outside in Whisker Woods, then teleport back to Polar and keep grinding until you have enough. At the Pond, FISH for: Smelt Gar

Now use the hot stone, THEN turn it into a cool stone at the pond, and at the sea pier FISH for: Walleye Pollock Saury Blue Hake Salmon Hairtail Herring Angler Fish Golden Angler Fish Golden Salmon New Breed Rainbow Fish

Don't forget the spinch!

• SKY HEIGHTS 2 - Get the panda as well as anything you may have missed here. Check again for Marbled Lungfish setup if you didn't get it before Once you reach the end of Tail Heights (don't forget the Rose!) teleport to Pawville and talk to Charles to complete his final sidequest.

• Zoo - Catch Morpho in the lion corner. Rainbow Butterfly is way easier here. Fish for: Ito Kokanee Bighead Carp Marbled Lungfish (if not gotten from Tail Heights)

• CLEANUP - A section to clear up everything else you might have missed. It's worth checking now if there's any missing dig items, fish, or bugs missing from other areas.

Head to the pier by Charles and clean up that if you still need to. Get the Lychee from Inferno Cave now. You can get Yuke Butterfly (if you missed it earlier) and Relic Dragonfly in Bubble Cave behind the four-paw rock.

• JADE FIELDS FINAL - Grind for Tomatoes and watermelons now. Get Zoo animals and complete Maria/Marin. Just pass through lonesome (feel free to get items later to avoid whirlwind bother)

• GONGORO PEAK - FISH for: Black Bass Snakehead Bowfin Climbing Perch Blue Gill Ancient Fish Arowana Arapaima Golden Arapaima

If, after you have the above fish, you don't get the black leather coat, oops better check what you forgot!

Speak to Bartholomew, then get the zoo lion to reload the area on the way back in case you're missing any diggables/bugs that didn't appear. Teleport to Pawville to deliver special fruit and veg if you haven't yet.

• LONESOME PARK - Toss rocks and clear the area for items as you go through. Get buffalo. Once finished, toss the final rock.

• DIMENSIONAL RIFT - All that's left is to fight Ivlet, say goodbye to Beat, and pat yourself on the back for finishing the run. Good work! Prepare for timer stop.