🐱 CatsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Purr Palace Capers
Oh no! The Golden Fish-Bone Trophy has vanished right before the final vote! The Purr Palace Cat Show is in big trouble. Inspector Whiskers needs your help to find the sneaky catburglar before they escape!
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 | special skill | sneaky tool | favorite paw | fur pattern | distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky | yarn tangled | fake mouse | left-pawed | solid black | squeaky toy |
| Simba | yarn tangled | box trap | left-pawed | solid black | crinkly paper |
| Felix | silent purring | catnip mist | right-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Tiger | yarn tangled | feather wand | right-pawed | calico patches | crinkly paper |
| Fluffy | super leap | box trap | left-pawed | tabby stripes | shaken treats |
| Sylvester | silent purring | laser pointer | left-pawed | solid black | shaken treats |
| Mittens | high climbing | laser pointer | left-pawed | tabby stripes | shaken treats |
| Pusheen | carpet scratching | laser pointer | right-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Cleo | super leap | feather wand | left-pawed | solid black | crinkly paper |
| Oliver | high climbing | box trap | right-pawed | calico patches | shaken treats |
| Shadow | silent purring | feather wand | right-pawed | tabby stripes | squeaky toy |
| Gizmo | yarn tangled | feather wand | left-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Smokey | high climbing | fake mouse | right-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Morris | yarn tangled | feather wand | right-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Peanut | yarn tangled | box trap | left-pawed | calico patches | crinkly paper |
| Tom | super leap | fake mouse | left-pawed | calico patches | shaken treats |
| Socks | yarn tangled | laser pointer | left-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
| Garfield | super leap | laser pointer | right-pawed | tabby stripes | squeaky toy |
| Whiskers | super leap | laser pointer | left-pawed | tabby stripes | squeaky toy |
| Luna | yarn tangled | laser pointer | left-pawed | solid black | squeaky toy |
| Bella | yarn tangled | catnip mist | right-pawed | calico patches | squeaky toy |
Clue 1
Rounding
Inspector Whiskers checks the digital laser radar but it only shows the distance rounded to the nearest ten
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
2300
1300
430
290
4300
300
300
3000
4300
50
90
370
430
900
50
370
T
2300
2900
900
430
T
2300
1300
430
1700
430
3000
T
2300
1300
430
5000
20
3000
50
90
Round 2,256 to the nearest hundredT
Round 90 to the nearest tenD
Round 426 to the nearest tenE
Round 293 to the nearest hundredL
Round 1,340 to the nearest hundredH
Round 21 to the nearest tenW
Round 289 to the nearest tenV
Round 4,551 to the nearest thousandR
Round 2,735 to the nearest thousandA
Round 1,697 to the nearest hundredF
Round 872 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,927 to the nearest hundredU
Round 4,253 to the nearest hundredI
Round 51 to the nearest tenN
Round 368 to the nearest tenO
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We count the spilled tuna cans and the wet food pouches to find how many total snacks the thief knocked over
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
4460
2848
9735
4029
5512
4029
2004
9735
5320
T
4460
5512
4029
9735
4029
T
4460
2848
9735
4322
5550
8055
2848
T
4460
2004
6623
5866
3012 + 1448 =T
2838 + 3785 =A
3841 + 5894 =E
3223 + 2327 =I
1826 + 3686 =U
953 + 1895 =H
2725 + 5330 =G
2835 + 3031 =W
2772 + 2548 =C
1199 + 805 =P
1746 + 2576 =R
2531 + 1498 =S
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The inspector measures the scratch marks on the rug and subtracts the normal claw sizes to see the difference
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
7148
8171
6431
2243
1080
3084
1560
3084
7278
3084
2243
2538
1080
2478
5747
T
7148
8171
6431
2330
7967
8186
6431
3084
8300
2243
T
7148
2478
2243
10642 - 3494 =T
6265 - 3727 =F
7514 - 4430 =A
4586 - 2256 =S
10584 - 2617 =Q
9311 - 3564 =M
4691 - 3131 =N
8229 - 43 =U
2499 - 21 =O
8790 - 1512 =W
5434 - 4354 =R
3142 - 899 =Y
8822 - 522 =K
8209 - 1778 =E
10698 - 2527 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The suspect ran across several rows of clean cat beds leaving footprints in equal groups on each row
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
9
100
121
60
121
42
60
121
66
42
120
132
66
64
36
42
T
9
66
100
121
2
42
T
9
T
9
100
121
2
66
121
49
121
3 × 3 =T
7 × 6 =A
11 × 6 =C
11 × 12 =I
1 × 2 =S
10 × 6 =R
12 × 3 =P
12 × 10 =L
11 × 11 =E
10 × 10 =H
7 × 7 =N
8 × 8 =O
0/12 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A box of shiny collar bells was knocked over and the spilled toys were split evenly among the clean-up kittens
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
36 ÷ 12 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scratches the judge's favorite chair, then hides inside a tiny cardboard box.
2.The villain leaps over the velvet barrier, then tosses a squeaking fake mouse.
3.The villain tangles the wool yarn, then sprays catnip mist to escape.
4.The villain tangles the wool yarn, then waves a fancy feather wand.
5.The villain climbs up the giant cat tree, then tosses a squeaking fake mouse.
6.The villain purrs so quietly nobody hears, then tosses a squeaking fake mouse.
7.The villain scratches the judge's favorite chair, then flashes a bright laser pointer.
8.The villain purrs so quietly nobody hears, then sprays catnip mist to escape.
9.The villain leaps over the velvet barrier, then sprays catnip mist to escape.
10.The villain scratches the judge's favorite chair, then sprays catnip mist to escape.
11.The villain tangles the wool yarn, then tosses a squeaking fake mouse.
12.The villain purrs so quietly nobody hears, then waves a fancy feather wand.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Purr Palace Capers
Culprit: Smokey (high climbing · fake mouse · right-pawed · calico patches · squeaky toy)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE FEATHER WAND"Round 2,256 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (D) · Round 426 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 293 to the nearest hundred = 300 (L) · Round 1,340 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (H) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (W) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (V) · Round 4,551 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 2,735 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 1,697 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (F) · Round 872 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 2,927 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (U) · Round 4,253 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (I) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (N) · Round 368 to the nearest ten = 370 (O)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT USES THE RIGHT PAW"3012 + 1448 = 4460 (T) · 2838 + 3785 = 6623 (A) · 3841 + 5894 = 9735 (E) · 3223 + 2327 = 5550 (I) · 1826 + 3686 = 5512 (U) · 953 + 1895 = 2848 (H) · 2725 + 5330 = 8055 (G) · 2835 + 3031 = 5866 (W) · 2772 + 2548 = 5320 (C) · 1199 + 805 = 2004 (P) · 1746 + 2576 = 4322 (R) · 2531 + 1498 = 4029 (S)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THEY RAN AWAY FROM THE SQUEAKY TOY"10642 - 3494 = 7148 (T) · 6265 - 3727 = 2538 (F) · 7514 - 4430 = 3084 (A) · 4586 - 2256 = 2330 (S) · 10584 - 2617 = 7967 (Q) · 9311 - 3564 = 5747 (M) · 4691 - 3131 = 1560 (N) · 8229 - 43 = 8186 (U) · 2499 - 21 = 2478 (O) · 8790 - 1512 = 7278 (W) · 5434 - 4354 = 1080 (R) · 3142 - 899 = 2243 (Y) · 8822 - 522 = 8300 (K) · 8209 - 1778 = 6431 (E) · 10698 - 2527 = 8171 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THERE ARE CALICO PATCHES AT THE SCENE"3 × 3 = 9 (T) · 7 × 6 = 42 (A) · 11 × 6 = 66 (C) · 11 × 12 = 132 (I) · 1 × 2 = 2 (S) · 10 × 6 = 60 (R) · 12 × 3 = 36 (P) · 12 × 10 = 120 (L) · 11 × 11 = 121 (E) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 7 × 7 = 49 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Smokey36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Purr Palace Capers — set in the Grand Meow Room at the Purr Palace Cat Show
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects