Play with, as a catnip mouse

As a detective in the world of crossword puzzles, I approached the clue ‘Play with, as a catnip mouse’ with a curious and meticulous mindset. My first instinct was to focus on the action verb ‘play with’, which led me to consider possible synonyms that relate to cats and their playful nature. The term ‘catnip mouse’ also provided some valuable insights, further hinting that the answer should be related to cats.

As I delved deeper into the clue, it dawned on me that the word ‘play with’ could be taken quite literally, and I started to imagine how a cat would interact with a catnip mouse. The most obvious act a cat would do is swipe at the mouse with its paw, and suddenly it clicked – the answer was ‘PAWAT’. This was an exciting revelation, as it not only perfectly fit the clues but also added a delightful layer of depth and cleverness to the puzzle. In a crossword world filled with generic and straightforward answers, it’s such moments of inspiration that make the detective’s job worth it, and I reveled in my success in solving this particular clue.