🐱 CatsGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Great Catnip Caper

Someone broke into Whisker Haven Rescue Center and snatched the golden bag of organic catnip! Examine the clues to track down the catnip thief.

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	Favorite Trick	Favorite Snack	Paw Preference	Fur Pattern	Distraction Toy
Jasper	Laser Chase	Milk Drops	Right Paw Dominant	Sleek Black	Squeaky Mouse
Mitzi	High Jump	Salmon Snacks	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls
Chloe	Box Hiding	Salmon Snacks	Right Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Squeaky Mouse
Pepper	Yarn Unravel	Nip Biscuits	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Squeaky Mouse
Pumpkin	Laser Chase	Chicken Crunch	Right Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Crinkly Balls
Cleo	Box Hiding	Salmon Snacks	Left Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Squeaky Mouse
Nala	Laser Chase	Milk Drops	Right Paw Dominant	Sleek Black	Crinkly Balls
Gizmo	Pounce Attack	Nip Biscuits	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls
Daisy	High Jump	Chicken Crunch	Left Paw Dominant	Sleek Black	Feather Wand
Rosie	High Jump	Chicken Crunch	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls
Hazel	High Jump	Salmon Snacks	Left Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Feather Wand
Oscar	High Jump	Nip Biscuits	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls
Buster	High Jump	Chicken Crunch	Left Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Feather Wand
Barnaby	Yarn Unravel	Chicken Crunch	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Feather Wand
Smokey	Laser Chase	Chicken Crunch	Left Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Squeaky Mouse
Milo	Pounce Attack	Chicken Crunch	Right Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Crinkly Balls
Peanut	Box Hiding	Milk Drops	Left Paw Dominant	Tabby Stripes	Squeaky Mouse
Ziggy	High Jump	Tuna Bites	Left Paw Dominant	Sleek Black	Crinkly Balls
Bella	Yarn Unravel	Tuna Bites	Right Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls
Simba	Yarn Unravel	Nip Biscuits	Right Paw Dominant	Sleek Black	Crinkly Balls
Shadow	Laser Chase	Milk Drops	Left Paw Dominant	Fluffy Calico	Crinkly Balls

Clue 1

Percentages

A sensor at the entrance calculated the percentage of shelter rooms searched before the suspect fled.

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

25% of 68 =T

50% of 26 =M

5% of 320 =H

75% of 40 =V

20% of 115 =K

20% of 45 =E

10% of 270 =L

40% of 30 =N

20% of 210 =D

10% of 350 =A

5% of 60 =C

10% of 140 =I

5% of 380 =S

25% of 152 =O

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

Security logs saved the vault code as a repeated factor using exponents.

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

216

324

169

225

361

324

121

256

324

400

324

121

400

324

169

121

6^3 =L

9^2 =S

6^2 =H

5^2 =G

13^2 =E

2^8 =N

15^2 =X

20^2 =W

3^2 =A

2^4 =I

11^2 =P

18^2 =T

2^2 =O

2^6 =R

19^2 =F

2^5 =B

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The shelter computer locked the evidence room with a multi step order of operations code.

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

3 + 4 × 2 =T

3 + 2 × 5 =P

5 × 8 - 16 =C

37 + 5 × 3 =H

7 × 5 - 8 =L

51 + 3 × 8 =A

17 + 4 × 3 =E

7 × 6 - 26 =W

50 + 2 × 8 =N

54 + 5 × 4 =B

45 + 3 × 5 =D

10 × 5 - 10 =Y

2 + 4 × 7 =K

6 + 2 × 3 =S

26 + 6 × 5 =R

9 × 6 - 16 =U

14 + 5 × 7 =I

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

Detectives counted rows of tipped cat food tins to calculate the total mess.

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

110

121

4 × 5 =O

8 × 8 =N

4 × 12 =K

7 × 1 =F

12 × 7 =T

10 × 5 =E

5 × 7 =C

9 × 11 =H

5 × 9 =U

3 × 2 =D

6 × 12 =R

4 × 2 =S

8 × 11 =G

11 × 11 =L

7 × 9 =A

8 × 5 =W

10 × 11 =B

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

Volunteers split the remaining stray treats equally among the rescue pens.

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

28 ÷ 4 = ?

6 ÷ 2 = ?

50 ÷ 5 = ?

90 ÷ 10 = ?

20 ÷ 10 = ?

66 ÷ 11 = ?

30 ÷ 6 = ?

121 ÷ 11 = ?

96 ÷ 12 = ?

5 ÷ 5 = ?

60 ÷ 5 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain unraveled the ball of yarn, then nibbled on nip biscuits.

2.The villain chased laser pointer lights, then munched on tuna bites.

3.The villain pounced onto the tall shelf, then nibbled on nip biscuits.

4.The villain unraveled the ball of yarn, then munched on tuna bites.

5.The villain pounced onto the tall shelf, then snacked on chicken crunch.

6.The villain pounced onto the tall shelf, then drank sweet milk drops.

7.The villain jumped over the safety gate, then nibbled on nip biscuits.

8.The villain chased laser pointer lights, then drank sweet milk drops.

9.The villain pounced onto the tall shelf, then munched on tuna bites.

10.The villain jumped over the safety gate, then snacked on chicken crunch.

11.The villain chased laser pointer lights, then nibbled on nip biscuits.

12.The villain hid inside a cardboard box, then snacked on chicken crunch.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Catnip Caper

Culprit: Bella (Yarn Unravel · Tuna Bites · Right Paw Dominant · Fluffy Calico · Crinkly Balls)

Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT EAT SALMON SNACKS"
25% of 68 = 17 (T) · 50% of 26 = 13 (M) · 5% of 320 = 16 (H) · 75% of 40 = 30 (V) · 20% of 115 = 23 (K) · 20% of 45 = 9 (E) · 10% of 270 = 27 (L) · 40% of 30 = 12 (N) · 20% of 210 = 42 (D) · 10% of 350 = 35 (A) · 5% of 60 = 3 (C) · 10% of 140 = 14 (I) · 5% of 380 = 19 (S) · 25% of 152 = 38 (O)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "LITTER BOX FOOTPRINTS SHOW A RIGHT PAW STEP"
6^3 = 216 (L) · 9^2 = 81 (S) · 6^2 = 36 (H) · 5^2 = 25 (G) · 13^2 = 169 (E) · 2^8 = 256 (N) · 15^2 = 225 (X) · 20^2 = 400 (W) · 3^2 = 9 (A) · 2^4 = 16 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (P) · 18^2 = 324 (T) · 2^2 = 4 (O) · 2^6 = 64 (R) · 19^2 = 361 (F) · 2^5 = 32 (B)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT WAS DISTRACTED BY CRINKLY BALLS"
3 + 4 × 2 = 11 (T) · 3 + 2 × 5 = 13 (P) · 5 × 8 - 16 = 24 (C) · 37 + 5 × 3 = 52 (H) · 7 × 5 - 8 = 27 (L) · 51 + 3 × 8 = 75 (A) · 17 + 4 × 3 = 29 (E) · 7 × 6 - 26 = 16 (W) · 50 + 2 × 8 = 66 (N) · 54 + 5 × 4 = 74 (B) · 45 + 3 × 5 = 60 (D) · 10 × 5 - 10 = 40 (Y) · 2 + 4 × 7 = 30 (K) · 6 + 2 × 3 = 12 (S) · 26 + 6 × 5 = 56 (R) · 9 × 6 - 16 = 38 (U) · 14 + 5 × 7 = 49 (I)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "ORANGE AND BLACK FUR WAS LEFT ON THE SHELF"
4 × 5 = 20 (O) · 8 × 8 = 64 (N) · 4 × 12 = 48 (K) · 7 × 1 = 7 (F) · 12 × 7 = 84 (T) · 10 × 5 = 50 (E) · 5 × 7 = 35 (C) · 9 × 11 = 99 (H) · 5 × 9 = 45 (U) · 3 × 2 = 6 (D) · 6 × 12 = 72 (R) · 4 × 2 = 8 (S) · 8 × 11 = 88 (G) · 11 × 11 = 121 (L) · 7 × 9 = 63 (A) · 8 × 5 = 40 (W) · 10 × 11 = 110 (B)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Bella
28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 6 math
Math topics: Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Great Catnip Caper — set in Whisker Haven Rescue Center
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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