The Case of the Catnip Caper
The famous Golden Yarn Ball has vanished from the Whisker City Museum! A sneaky cat burglar slipped past the lasers. Detective, we need your help to crack the clues, solve the math puzzles, and find the culprit.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Favorite Toy | Super Skill | Collar Color | Fur Coat | Secret Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socks | Laser Pointer | High Jumper | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Tuna Treats |
| Mittens | Yarn Ball | Super Climber | Red Collar | Orange Tabby | Scratches |
| Buster | Squeaky Mouse | Wall Runner | Blue Collar | Calico Patches | Tuna Treats |
| Sylvester | Yarn Ball | Wall Runner | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Scratches |
| Chloe | Squeaky Mouse | High Jumper | Red Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Sophie | Feather Wand | Super Climber | Blue Collar | Calico Patches | Warm Sunbeam |
| Garfield | Laser Pointer | Night Vision | Red Collar | Orange Tabby | Scratches |
| Ziggy | Catnip Mouse | Wall Runner | Red Collar | Calico Patches | Warm Sunbeam |
| Meowth | Yarn Ball | Night Vision | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Scratches |
| Oliver | Feather Wand | Wall Runner | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Fluffy | Feather Wand | Super Climber | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Scratches |
| Nala | Laser Pointer | Wall Runner | Red Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Cleo | Squeaky Mouse | Wall Runner | Blue Collar | Calico Patches | Scratches |
| Milo | Catnip Mouse | Night Vision | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Grumpy Cat | Squeaky Mouse | Super Climber | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Scratches |
| Shadow | Catnip Mouse | High Jumper | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Felix | Feather Wand | High Jumper | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Tuna Treats |
| Luna | Squeaky Mouse | High Jumper | Blue Collar | Sleek Black | Tuna Treats |
| Tom | Yarn Ball | Super Climber | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Simba | Laser Pointer | High Jumper | Blue Collar | Orange Tabby | Tuna Treats |
| Smokey | Squeaky Mouse | Super Climber | Red Collar | Sleek Black | Warm Sunbeam |
Rounding
We found a digital collar tracker that only shows rounded distances to the suspect's location.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
We counted all the spilled kibble piles to map out the direction the thief ran.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
We measured the missing fish from the pantry to find out how many were taken.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We saw several neat rows of tiny muddy paw prints left on the museum floor.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We had to share the catnip toys equally among the guard dogs to keep them happy.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Catnip Caper
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SNEAKY THIEF DOES NOT HAVE NIGHT VISION"Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (T) · Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (Y) · Round 3,698 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (N) · Round 227 to the nearest ten = 230 (V) · Round 1,252 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (D) · Round 247 to the nearest hundred = 200 (O) · Round 8,848 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 4,971 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (K) · Round 495 to the nearest hundred = 500 (F) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (H) · Round 4,338 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 676 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 331 to the nearest hundred = 300 (A) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (G)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE BURGLAR DROPPED A BLUE COLLAR"4013 + 1961 = 5974 (T) · 1882 + 1313 = 3195 (G) · 3064 + 1413 = 4477 (B) · 993 + 1028 = 2021 (E) · 1532 + 2247 = 3779 (D) · 2384 + 2958 = 5342 (C) · 1422 + 2830 = 4252 (H) · 4600 + 4015 = 8615 (A) · 2339 + 3564 = 5903 (L) · 2793 + 3293 = 6086 (P) · 1727 + 3085 = 4812 (O) · 3030 + 3278 = 6308 (R) · 2223 + 2439 = 4662 (U)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE CAT WILL ALWAYS STOP FOR TUNA TREATS"10262 - 3100 = 7162 (T) · 7060 - 2435 = 4625 (P) · 8073 - 4636 = 3437 (W) · 8969 - 2160 = 6809 (E) · 8916 - 4298 = 4618 (R) · 10226 - 3458 = 6768 (F) · 8656 - 4315 = 4341 (N) · 11395 - 3588 = 7807 (Y) · 10290 - 3751 = 6539 (L) · 8286 - 4208 = 4078 (O) · 5252 - 2540 = 2712 (H) · 3489 - 1023 = 2466 (C) · 9138 - 2107 = 7031 (A) · 3681 - 1293 = 2388 (U) · 11590 - 4103 = 7487 (S) · 8633 - 475 = 8158 (I)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE DETECTIVE FOUND ORANGE TABBY FUR"5 × 10 = 50 (T) · 12 × 12 = 144 (V) · 3 × 1 = 3 (B) · 9 × 1 = 9 (I) · 5 × 5 = 25 (R) · 4 × 1 = 4 (H) · 11 × 9 = 99 (A) · 11 × 2 = 22 (G) · 2 × 1 = 2 (C) · 7 × 12 = 84 (E) · 6 × 7 = 42 (D) · 2 × 7 = 14 (Y) · 11 × 10 = 110 (U) · 7 × 7 = 49 (O) · 8 × 11 = 88 (F) · 8 × 7 = 56 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Oliver16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Catnip Caper — set in Whisker City Museum
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects
