🐱 Cats, halloweenGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingDivision
The Case of the Missing Catnip Treats
The Halloween Pumpkin Festival at Whisker Hollow was going great until the giant batch of glowing catnip treats vanished! Detective Whiskers needs your help to decode clues and find the sneaky feline culprit.
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 | Magic Trick | Costume Accessory | Paw Preference | Fur Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleo Moon | Pumpkin Glide | Bat Wings | Left Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Simba Night | Ghost Whistle | Pumpkin Mask | Right Paws | Black Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Barnaby Whiskers | Shadow Leap | Ghost Cape | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Leo Shadow | Pumpkin Glide | Witch Hat | Right Paws | Black Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Felix Blackwood | Glow Stare | Pumpkin Mask | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Hazel Claw | Shadow Leap | Pumpkin Mask | Left Paws | Orange Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Mochi Dusk | Glow Stare | Witch Hat | Left Paws | Black Fur | Squeaky Mouse |
| Shadow Paws | Shadow Leap | Witch Hat | Left Paws | Calico Fur | Squeaky Mouse |
| Ziggy Bat | Pumpkin Glide | Ghost Cape | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Archie Fang | Shadow Leap | Ghost Cape | Left Paws | Orange Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Ruby Spook | Shadow Leap | Ghost Cape | Left Paws | Orange Fur | Squeaky Mouse |
| Otis Bramble | Ghost Whistle | Ghost Cape | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Pepper Fog | Pumpkin Glide | Bat Wings | Left Paws | Orange Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Oliver Pumpkin | Bat Flutter | Pumpkin Mask | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Gizmo Ghoul | Pumpkin Glide | Ghost Cape | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Bella Lantern | Ghost Whistle | Pumpkin Mask | Left Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Nala Midnight | Bat Flutter | Spider Cap | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Luna Cobweb | Shadow Leap | Witch Hat | Left Paws | Black Fur | Crinkly Paper |
| Penny Cauldron | Bat Flutter | Bat Wings | Right Paws | Orange Fur | Squeaky Mouse |
| Chloe Phantom | Glow Stare | Ghost Cape | Left Paws | Calico Fur | Squeaky Mouse |
| Jasper Broom | Shadow Leap | Spider Cap | Right Paws | Calico Fur | Laser Pointer |
Clue 1
Place value
A code wheel on the bakery door uses digit place values to unlock clue one.
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
700
80
600
20
2000
600
90
500
1000
300
50
60
60
90
50
2000
2000
600
300
600
400
8000
600
90
400
20
90
20
7000
50
900
600
400
3000
90
7000
What is the value of the 7 in 761?T
What is the value of the 9 in 984?D
What is the value of the 9 in 5,392?A
What is the value of the 2 in 4,620?S
What is the value of the 5 in 4,566?K
What is the value of the 6 in 9,069?L
What is the value of the 8 in 7,986?H
What is the value of the 1 in 1,808?Y
What is the value of the 2 in 2,069?N
What is the value of the 4 in 479?R
What is the value of the 6 in 633?E
What is the value of the 8 in 8,761?W
What is the value of the 5 in 1,356?I
What is the value of the 3 in 362?V
What is the value of the 7 in 87,852?P
What is the value of the 3 in 3,967?C
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Detective Whiskers totals up all dropped treats along the spooky trail to find clue two.
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
2291
2988
2803
4156
9544
8339
8339
8359
9544
3554
3761
3554
8339
8081
3011
T
2291
7402
9544
5294
2803
3011
2388
9544
T
2291
2988
7402
9544
8490
2988
T
2291
8204
8359
2388
3011
921 + 1370 =T
4182 + 4157 =L
3274 + 2020 =K
1339 + 1649 =H
2299 + 1857 =V
3134 + 6410 =I
1878 + 1133 =S
3999 + 3403 =R
1252 + 1551 =E
5582 + 2777 =A
1159 + 2395 =N
1678 + 2083 =O
1461 + 927 =W
4793 + 3411 =P
3459 + 4622 =Y
4143 + 4347 =G
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Comparing the pumpkin count before and after the commotion reveals clue three.
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
1136
5080
3417
5761
4150
6476
T
1136
5761
T
1136
4933
4952
5761
4589
5884
5761
5080
3417
6779
2421
6476
T
1136
4150
4589
3417
6779
8302
1642
8402
4952
6476
4952
7302
4589
3892 - 2756 =T
5957 - 1005 =P
9856 - 1454 =Y
10104 - 1802 =K
5381 - 1964 =I
7372 - 4951 =G
10275 - 2973 =E
10456 - 4695 =S
6463 - 1383 =H
5371 - 1221 =C
8274 - 1495 =N
5042 - 109 =O
5746 - 4104 =L
9584 - 3108 =A
8753 - 2869 =U
5428 - 839 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The automated scanner on the festival scoreboard rounds up fur counts to uncover clue four.
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
2000
430
70
7000
900
70
3700
70
430
90
7000
90
7000
T
2000
5000
90
3700
20
3000
50
900
90
700
230
900
3000
50
2300
5000
Round 2,463 to the nearest thousandT
Round 46 to the nearest tenF
Round 73 to the nearest tenE
Round 17 to the nearest tenD
Round 432 to the nearest tenH
Round 91 to the nearest tenA
Round 919 to the nearest hundredC
Round 6,613 to the nearest thousandS
Round 748 to the nearest hundredL
Round 2,302 to the nearest hundredU
Round 3,730 to the nearest hundredN
Round 2,538 to the nearest thousandO
Round 233 to the nearest tenI
Round 4,970 to the nearest thousandR
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Splitting the remaining catnip treats equally among the helper kittens unveils clue five.
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
9 ÷ 9 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain stared with a green glow, then put on a pumpkin mask.
2.The villain blew a ghost whistle, then fixed a spider cap.
3.The villain glided on a pumpkin, then swished a ghost cape.
4.The villain blew a ghost whistle, then put on a pumpkin mask.
5.The villain fluttered like a bat, then put on a pumpkin mask.
6.The villain glided on a pumpkin, then flapped bat wings.
7.The villain blew a ghost whistle, then adjusted a witch hat.
8.The villain fluttered like a bat, then flapped bat wings.
9.The villain fluttered like a bat, then fixed a spider cap.
10.The villain glided on a pumpkin, then adjusted a witch hat.
11.The villain blew a ghost whistle, then swished a ghost cape.
12.The villain leaped through shadows, then fixed a spider cap.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Catnip Treats
Culprit: Gizmo Ghoul (Pumpkin Glide · Ghost Cape · Right Paws · Calico Fur · Crinkly Paper)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN NEVER WEARS A SPIDER CAP"What is the value of the 7 in 761? = 700 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 984? = 900 (D) · What is the value of the 9 in 5,392? = 90 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 4,620? = 20 (S) · What is the value of the 5 in 4,566? = 500 (K) · What is the value of the 6 in 9,069? = 60 (L) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,986? = 80 (H) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,808? = 1000 (Y) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,069? = 2000 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 479? = 400 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 633? = 600 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 8,761? = 8000 (W) · What is the value of the 5 in 1,356? = 50 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 362? = 300 (V) · What is the value of the 7 in 87,852? = 7000 (P) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,967? = 3000 (C)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN ONLY STRIKES WITH RIGHT PAWS"921 + 1370 = 2291 (T) · 4182 + 4157 = 8339 (L) · 3274 + 2020 = 5294 (K) · 1339 + 1649 = 2988 (H) · 2299 + 1857 = 4156 (V) · 3134 + 6410 = 9544 (I) · 1878 + 1133 = 3011 (S) · 3999 + 3403 = 7402 (R) · 1252 + 1551 = 2803 (E) · 5582 + 2777 = 8359 (A) · 1159 + 2395 = 3554 (N) · 1678 + 2083 = 3761 (O) · 1461 + 927 = 2388 (W) · 4793 + 3411 = 8204 (P) · 3459 + 4622 = 8081 (Y) · 4143 + 4347 = 8490 (G)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THIS CAT STOPS RUSHING AT CRINKLY PAPER"3892 - 2756 = 1136 (T) · 5957 - 1005 = 4952 (P) · 9856 - 1454 = 8402 (Y) · 10104 - 1802 = 8302 (K) · 5381 - 1964 = 3417 (I) · 7372 - 4951 = 2421 (G) · 10275 - 2973 = 7302 (E) · 10456 - 4695 = 5761 (S) · 6463 - 1383 = 5080 (H) · 5371 - 1221 = 4150 (C) · 8274 - 1495 = 6779 (N) · 5042 - 109 = 4933 (O) · 5746 - 4104 = 1642 (L) · 9584 - 3108 = 6476 (A) · 8753 - 2869 = 5884 (U) · 5428 - 839 = 4589 (R)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE SCENE HAS A STRAND OF CALICO FUR"Round 2,463 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (T) · Round 46 to the nearest ten = 50 (F) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (E) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (D) · Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (H) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 919 to the nearest hundred = 900 (C) · Round 6,613 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 748 to the nearest hundred = 700 (L) · Round 2,302 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (U) · Round 3,730 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (N) · Round 2,538 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (O) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (I) · Round 4,970 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Gizmo Ghoul9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Catnip Treats — set in Whisker Hollow Pumpkin Patch
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects