Cat and Mouse Problem

The Cat and Mouse Problem is the traditional example of the Superluminal Incoherent Wave Transmographied Indeterminacy, as applied to Astrogation, and described by Dr. Nyetildang Catkinranesstanskel and Dr. Tiasamrodar Mousoughdaningshyem. It can be paraphrased as such:

A cat1 is placed in a spaceship, and sent to a distant star, along the most direct route. A mouse which has been hunting the cat follows in a second spaceship at the same speed, five minutes later. How can the second ship’s course be diverted through or around Blank Space, to enable the mouse to arrive just prior to the cat with enough time to catch (and presumably consume) it, and then make it back to the originating point in time for tea, all while avoiding the Duplicity Paradox.

1 The animal once known as a “cat” had only four legs and fur, and seems to be unrelated to the animal now known as a “cat”.

—Aerithnu Yenroar