🚀 Cats, SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationWord problemsMulti-step word problemsFractions of a numberDivision
The Cosmic Catnip Caper
Oh no! A sneaky space pirate kitty has snuck aboard the Meow-1 Space Station and stolen the Golden Salmon Treat! The Chief Milk Officer needs your help. Use your math skills to decode the clues and find the culprit before they escape to the litter box galaxy!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Space Suit Gear | Space Skill | Suit Patch | Fur Pattern | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper | laser pointer beam | mouse droid hack | moon patches | tabby stripes | vacuum cleaner hum |
| Simba | zero-g leap | tuna can radar | star patches | calico fur | spray water bottle |
| Cosmo | yarn ball shield | warp speed pounce | moon patches | tabby stripes | spray water bottle |
| Shadow | rocket boots | warp speed pounce | star patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Daisy | anti-gravity purr | mouse droid hack | star patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Pippin | rocket boots | tuna can radar | star patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Whiskers | yarn ball shield | solar nap | star patches | tabby stripes | spray water bottle |
| Major Tom | rocket boots | warp speed pounce | moon patches | tuxedo black fur | catnip mist |
| Astro | yarn ball shield | fishbone rocket | moon patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Mittens | zero-g leap | solar nap | star patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Rocky | zero-g leap | warp speed pounce | star patches | tuxedo black fur | catnip mist |
| Ziggy | zero-g leap | mouse droid hack | star patches | calico fur | catnip mist |
| Buster | rocket boots | warp speed pounce | moon patches | tabby stripes | spray water bottle |
| Stella | laser pointer beam | fishbone rocket | star patches | tuxedo black fur | catnip mist |
| Cleo | yarn ball shield | mouse droid hack | moon patches | calico fur | vacuum cleaner hum |
| Lucky | zero-g leap | solar nap | star patches | tabby stripes | vacuum cleaner hum |
| Smokey | rocket boots | fishbone rocket | moon patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Felix | anti-gravity purr | fishbone rocket | star patches | tabby stripes | catnip mist |
| Luna | rocket boots | mouse droid hack | moon patches | calico fur | catnip mist |
| Barnaby | anti-gravity purr | solar nap | star patches | calico fur | vacuum cleaner hum |
| Orion | laser pointer beam | warp speed pounce | star patches | tuxedo black fur | vacuum cleaner hum |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found a grid of solar energy cells. Multiply the rows of glowing cells to unlock the first clue file!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
35
110
20
63
6
80
80
70
6
100
2
49
20
8
100
49
T
35
28
8
20
99
70
48
25
8
25
20
20
2
25
49
28
100
45
20
5 × 7 =T
10 × 10 =N
7 × 10 =A
5 × 5 =P
4 × 7 =U
11 × 9 =W
5 × 4 =E
2 × 3 =I
4 × 2 =S
7 × 9 =V
11 × 10 =H
8 × 6 =R
8 × 10 =L
1 × 2 =D
9 × 5 =C
7 × 7 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
A space mouse told us about a weird signal on the radar. Solve this word problem to clean up the fuzzy sound.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
S
65
31
38
69
58
38
31
60
40
E
S
65
Captain Whiskers found 50 tuna tins yesterday and 15 more today. How many tuna tins in all?S
There were 66 tuna tins. 28 were used up. How many tuna tins are left?A
Captain Whiskers lined up 10 rows of 6 tuna tins. How many tuna tins in all?C
There were 67 yarn asteroids. 9 were used up. How many yarn asteroids are left?P
Captain Whiskers found 39 space mice yesterday and 30 more today. How many space mice in all?R
Captain Whiskers lined up 10 rows of 4 laser pointers. How many laser pointers in all?H
Captain Whiskers found 12 glow collars yesterday and 19 more today. How many glow collars in all?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
To open the locked control room, we need to count the energy batteries and subtract the damaged ones.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
C
22
34
28
25
42
79
68
42
S
28
Captain Whiskers filled 7 boxes with 3 tuna tins each, then found 1 more tuna tins. How many tuna tins are there in all?C
Captain Whiskers earned 3 yarn asteroids in each of 3 rounds, plus 27 bonus yarn asteroids. Then 2 yarn asteroids were lost. How many yarn asteroids are left?A
Captain Whiskers earned 3 tuna tins in each of 6 rounds, plus 17 bonus tuna tins. Then 7 tuna tins were lost. How many tuna tins are left?T
Captain Whiskers collected 83 laser pointers in the morning and 257 laser pointers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Astro-Claw Patrol. How many laser pointers did each get?M
There were 357 yarn asteroids in all. 3 The Astro-Claw Patrol used 35 yarn asteroids each. The other 6 The Astro-Claw Patrol shared the rest equally. How many yarn asteroids did each of the other The Astro-Claw Patrol get?I
Captain Whiskers earned 6 laser pointers in each of 6 rounds, plus 56 bonus laser pointers. Then 13 laser pointers were lost. How many laser pointers are left?P
There were 72 glow collars in all. 2 The Astro-Claw Patrol used 11 glow collars each. The other 2 The Astro-Claw Patrol shared the rest equally. How many glow collars did each of the other The Astro-Claw Patrol get?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
The ship scanner found some floating items. Only a fraction of them are space clues. Let's find the fraction!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
34
7
17
13
17
26
35
31
3
T
34
9
26
28
21
17
31
28
13
28
36
T
34
28
22
22
9
13
T
34
31
3
25
17
13
2/4 of 68 =T
2/10 of 175 =U
2/8 of 12 =I
3/6 of 14 =H
2/4 of 44 =B
4/8 of 34 =E
1/3 of 93 =R
2/4 of 18 =Y
1/5 of 140 =A
2/10 of 130 =C
1/6 of 126 =M
4/8 of 26 =S
3/4 of 48 =W
1/2 of 50 =P
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The escape pods must be shared equally among the crew. Divide them up to get the final clue!
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!
Step 1 — solve these
30 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambled the ship navigation, then chased a shooting star.
2.The villain stole the glowing stardust, then scratched the spaceship couch.
3.The villain scrambled the ship navigation, then purred into the radio mic.
4.The villain knocked the main battery off the table, then napped on the solar panels.
5.The villain nibbled on the control panel wires, then purred into the radio mic.
6.The villain nibbled on the control panel wires, then hid inside the escape pod.
7.The villain knocked the main battery off the table, then purred into the radio mic.
8.The villain scrambled the ship navigation, then scratched the spaceship couch.
9.The villain floated away with the warp drive, then napped on the solar panels.
10.The villain knocked the main battery off the table, then chased a shooting star.
11.The villain scrambled the ship navigation, then napped on the solar panels.
12.The villain floated away with the warp drive, then hid inside the escape pod.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cosmic Catnip Caper
Culprit: Mittens (zero-g leap · solar nap · star patches · tabby stripes · catnip mist)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE WARP SPEED POUNCE"5 × 7 = 35 (T) · 10 × 10 = 100 (N) · 7 × 10 = 70 (A) · 5 × 5 = 25 (P) · 4 × 7 = 28 (U) · 11 × 9 = 99 (W) · 5 × 4 = 20 (E) · 2 × 3 = 6 (I) · 4 × 2 = 8 (S) · 7 × 9 = 63 (V) · 11 × 10 = 110 (H) · 8 × 6 = 48 (R) · 8 × 10 = 80 (L) · 1 × 2 = 2 (D) · 9 × 5 = 45 (C) · 7 × 7 = 49 (O)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "STAR PATCHES"Captain Whiskers found 50 tuna tins yesterday and 15 more today. How many tuna tins in all? = 65 (S) · There were 66 tuna tins. 28 were used up. How many tuna tins are left? = 38 (A) · Captain Whiskers lined up 10 rows of 6 tuna tins. How many tuna tins in all? = 60 (C) · There were 67 yarn asteroids. 9 were used up. How many yarn asteroids are left? = 58 (P) · Captain Whiskers found 39 space mice yesterday and 30 more today. How many space mice in all? = 69 (R) · Captain Whiskers lined up 10 rows of 4 laser pointers. How many laser pointers in all? = 40 (H) · Captain Whiskers found 12 glow collars yesterday and 19 more today. How many glow collars in all? = 31 (T)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "CATNIP MIST"Captain Whiskers filled 7 boxes with 3 tuna tins each, then found 1 more tuna tins. How many tuna tins are there in all? = 22 (C) · Captain Whiskers earned 3 yarn asteroids in each of 3 rounds, plus 27 bonus yarn asteroids. Then 2 yarn asteroids were lost. How many yarn asteroids are left? = 34 (A) · Captain Whiskers earned 3 tuna tins in each of 6 rounds, plus 17 bonus tuna tins. Then 7 tuna tins were lost. How many tuna tins are left? = 28 (T) · Captain Whiskers collected 83 laser pointers in the morning and 257 laser pointers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Astro-Claw Patrol. How many laser pointers did each get? = 68 (M) · There were 357 yarn asteroids in all. 3 The Astro-Claw Patrol used 35 yarn asteroids each. The other 6 The Astro-Claw Patrol shared the rest equally. How many yarn asteroids did each of the other The Astro-Claw Patrol get? = 42 (I) · Captain Whiskers earned 6 laser pointers in each of 6 rounds, plus 56 bonus laser pointers. Then 13 laser pointers were lost. How many laser pointers are left? = 79 (P) · There were 72 glow collars in all. 2 The Astro-Claw Patrol used 11 glow collars each. The other 2 The Astro-Claw Patrol shared the rest equally. How many glow collars did each of the other The Astro-Claw Patrol get? = 25 (N)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "THE SECURITY CAMERA SAW TABBY STRIPES"2/4 of 68 = 34 (T) · 2/10 of 175 = 35 (U) · 2/8 of 12 = 3 (I) · 3/6 of 14 = 7 (H) · 2/4 of 44 = 22 (B) · 4/8 of 34 = 17 (E) · 1/3 of 93 = 31 (R) · 2/4 of 18 = 9 (Y) · 1/5 of 140 = 28 (A) · 2/10 of 130 = 26 (C) · 1/6 of 126 = 21 (M) · 4/8 of 26 = 13 (S) · 3/4 of 48 = 36 (W) · 1/2 of 50 = 25 (P)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Mittens30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Cosmic Catnip Caper — set in the Meow-1 Space Station orbiting Saturn
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects