🐱 CatsGrade 3Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Great Catnip Caper

A sneaky thief has snatched the legendary Golden Yarn Ball from the Whisker Heights Museum! The Curator needs your help to crack the case. Track down the feline suspect before they make off with the ultimate toy.

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	Sneaky Skill	Escape Gear	Paw Preference	Fur Pattern	Distraction
Bella	carpet scratching	catnip smoke bomb	right pawed	siamese points	shining red dot
Felix	high shelf jumping	motorized mouse	left pawed	tabby stripes	crinkly paper ball
Figaro	carpet scratching	yarn ball decoy	left pawed	tabby stripes	shining red dot
Socks	laser pointer dodging	feather wand rope	right pawed	tabby stripes	crinkly paper ball
Simba	high shelf jumping	catnip smoke bomb	right pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Oreo	laser pointer dodging	yarn ball decoy	right pawed	siamese points	shining red dot
Cheshire	silent meowing	feather wand rope	right pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Milo	silent meowing	motorized mouse	right pawed	siamese points	rustling treat bag
Cleo	silent meowing	catnip smoke bomb	right pawed	tabby stripes	crinkly paper ball
Ziggy	carpet scratching	feather wand rope	right pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Luna	high shelf jumping	cardboard glider	right pawed	siamese points	crinkly paper ball
Oliver	box squeezing	catnip smoke bomb	left pawed	tabby stripes	crinkly paper ball
Tom	carpet scratching	cardboard glider	right pawed	tabby stripes	shining red dot
Sylvester	laser pointer dodging	feather wand rope	left pawed	siamese points	shining red dot
Garfield	silent meowing	cardboard glider	left pawed	calico patches	shining red dot
Jasper	box squeezing	feather wand rope	left pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Boots	carpet scratching	catnip smoke bomb	left pawed	tabby stripes	crinkly paper ball
Nala	box squeezing	yarn ball decoy	right pawed	siamese points	crinkly paper ball
Whiskers	silent meowing	motorized mouse	right pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Smokey	box squeezing	yarn ball decoy	right pawed	calico patches	crinkly paper ball
Mittens	box squeezing	yarn ball decoy	right pawed	calico patches	rustling treat bag

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

To find the first clue, we need to count the boxes of cat food stacked in the pantry. They are arranged in neat rows and columns.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

2 × 8 =T

3 × 11 =O

7 × 8 =I

3 × 2 =F

5 × 3 =E

4 × 7 =A

7 × 3 =H

11 × 6 =N

12 × 7 =D

11 × 2 =Z

6 × 7 =M

6 × 4 =R

8 × 10 =S

9 × 10 =U

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The museum security scale registered the suspect's weight, but the analog dial only gives us a rounded estimate.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

700

200

800

700

6000

500

800

3000

6000

500

700

200

700

200

800

300

500

5000

200

700

7000

6000

Round 671 to the nearest hundredT

Round 7,203 to the nearest thousandA

Round 81 to the nearest tenP

Round 4,535 to the nearest thousandG

Round 239 to the nearest hundredH

Round 29 to the nearest tenS

Round 2,559 to the nearest thousandD

Round 524 to the nearest hundredI

Round 68 to the nearest tenC

Round 803 to the nearest hundredE

Round 6,120 to the nearest thousandW

Round 273 to the nearest hundredR

Round 21 to the nearest tenU

0/13 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

The curator gathered all the loose claw covers found on the carpet. Let's add them up to see how many the suspect lost.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

932

822

554

239

280

842

505

510

721

932

721

979

554

612

932

505

571

239

505

755

239

851

764

554

932

822

764

249

239

851

579

979

505

239

280

979

583 + 349 =A

166 + 339 =L

391 + 588 =E

322 + 232 =R

202 + 377 =F

319 + 293 =B

346 + 418 =T

157 + 82 =I

555 + 296 =S

462 + 360 =C

272 + 483 =D

123 + 126 =H

349 + 222 =W

329 + 181 =Y

580 + 262 =K

368 + 353 =P

105 + 175 =N

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The thief knocked over a jar of cat treats and ate some. We can find the missing amount by subtracting what remains from the starting total.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

498

104

432

425

760

349

720

285

356

584

425

760

720

104

584

285

356

498

439

285

104

154

356

778

285

409

425

432

660 - 162 =L

1076 - 316 =F

918 - 140 =T

542 - 186 =A

368 - 264 =O

661 - 252 =H

472 - 123 =U

785 - 201 =M

541 - 102 =I

990 - 270 =R

547 - 115 =S

545 - 120 =E

388 - 234 =P

544 - 259 =C

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

A pack of alley cats agreed to share information if we divide our stash of tuna cans equally among them.

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

60 ÷ 5 = ?

32 ÷ 4 = ?

6 ÷ 1 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

88 ÷ 8 = ?

10 ÷ 10 = ?

110 ÷ 11 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

72 ÷ 8 = ?

20 ÷ 5 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain avoided the security lasers, then vanished in a catnip smoke bomb.

2.The villain shredded the heavy curtains, then distracted guards with a motorized mouse.

3.The villain shredded the heavy curtains, then escaped using a feather wand rope.

4.The villain snuck through the small cat door, then distracted guards with a motorized mouse.

5.The villain leaped to the ceiling rafters, then left behind a decoy yarn ball.

6.The villain leaped to the ceiling rafters, then vanished in a catnip smoke bomb.

7.The villain avoided the security lasers, then distracted guards with a motorized mouse.

8.The villain snuck through the small cat door, then left behind a decoy yarn ball.

9.The villain leaped to the ceiling rafters, then soared away on a cardboard glider.

10.The villain slipped past the guard dogs silently, then vanished in a catnip smoke bomb.

11.The villain shredded the heavy curtains, then left behind a decoy yarn ball.

12.The villain slipped past the guard dogs silently, then escaped using a feather wand rope.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Catnip Caper

Culprit: Ziggy (carpet scratching · feather wand rope · right pawed · calico patches · crinkly paper ball)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DID NOT USE A MOTORIZED MOUSE"
2 × 8 = 16 (T) · 3 × 11 = 33 (O) · 7 × 8 = 56 (I) · 3 × 2 = 6 (F) · 5 × 3 = 15 (E) · 4 × 7 = 28 (A) · 7 × 3 = 21 (H) · 11 × 6 = 66 (N) · 12 × 7 = 84 (D) · 11 × 2 = 22 (Z) · 6 × 7 = 42 (M) · 6 × 4 = 24 (R) · 8 × 10 = 80 (S) · 9 × 10 = 90 (U)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT SWIPED WITH THE RIGHT PAW"
Round 671 to the nearest hundred = 700 (T) · Round 7,203 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (A) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (P) · Round 4,535 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (G) · Round 239 to the nearest hundred = 200 (H) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (S) · Round 2,559 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 524 to the nearest hundred = 500 (I) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (C) · Round 803 to the nearest hundred = 800 (E) · Round 6,120 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (W) · Round 273 to the nearest hundred = 300 (R) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (U)
Clue 3 (Addition): "A CRINKLY PAPER BALL WILL DISTRACT THIS FELINE"
583 + 349 = 932 (A) · 166 + 339 = 505 (L) · 391 + 588 = 979 (E) · 322 + 232 = 554 (R) · 202 + 377 = 579 (F) · 319 + 293 = 612 (B) · 346 + 418 = 764 (T) · 157 + 82 = 239 (I) · 555 + 296 = 851 (S) · 462 + 360 = 822 (C) · 272 + 483 = 755 (D) · 123 + 126 = 249 (H) · 349 + 222 = 571 (W) · 329 + 181 = 510 (Y) · 580 + 262 = 842 (K) · 368 + 353 = 721 (P) · 105 + 175 = 280 (N)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "LOOSE FUR CAME FROM CALICO PATCHES"
660 - 162 = 498 (L) · 1076 - 316 = 760 (F) · 918 - 140 = 778 (T) · 542 - 186 = 356 (A) · 368 - 264 = 104 (O) · 661 - 252 = 409 (H) · 472 - 123 = 349 (U) · 785 - 201 = 584 (M) · 541 - 102 = 439 (I) · 990 - 270 = 720 (R) · 547 - 115 = 432 (S) · 545 - 120 = 425 (E) · 388 - 234 = 154 (P) · 544 - 259 = 285 (C)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Ziggy
60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Great Catnip Caper — set in The Whisker Heights Museum of Fine Fish and Catnip
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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