Every customer at the pickup window in Cat Mail Co. gives you clues instead of a tracking number. Some name the recipient, some describe the shape of the box, and some only mention a sticker or a warning label. Reading those clues correctly is the fastest way to clear the counter and keep the mail moving.
Quick answer: Match the customer’s words to three things in order. Start with the name on the back of the box (full first name plus the first letter of the last name), then the box shape and size, then any sticker, damage mark, or storage warning they mention.
Read the recipient name on the label
When a customer gives you a name, check the back of the package where the address is written. The first name is always spelled out in full, but the last name shows only its first letter. The surnames are made-up and cat-themed, so you are matching an initial, not a whole word.
Sometimes a customer only tells you the last name. If someone asks for a package for “Whiskers,” you are looking for a label ending in a W. On rarer occasions a customer mentions a middle name, in which case the box shows the full first name plus the first letter of the middle name.
Note: Names are intentionally gender-neutral, so you cannot narrow a search by guessing the recipient’s gender. When the name alone is not enough, fall back on the shape and size clues below.
Match the box shape and size to the description
Most customers describe the shape of their package before anything else. Each phrase maps to a specific box footprint. The grid size tells you how much shelf space the box takes, which helps when several packages look similar.
| What the customer says | What to look for | Grid size | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s a letter | A small brown or blue envelope | 1x2x0.5 |  |
| It’s a small box, nothing special | A small rectangular box | 1x2x1 |  |
| It’s cube-shaped | A perfect cube | 2x2x1 |  |
| It’s a small package | Exactly double the size of the small box | 2x2x2 |  |
| Mid-sized, with a cord or rope around it | A thick letter or a box with a string; blue or brown | 2x3x2 or 2x4x1 |  |
| I hope it will fit on my bike | A wide rectangular package | 2x4x2 or 2x5x2 |  |
| About the same size as me | A tall version of the “fits on my bike” box, roughly the height of a grown cat | 2x2x4 |  |
| The package has handles | A box with side openings and a fruit symbol on the front | 2x3x2 |  |
| It’s a big box, I’m building a cardboard castle | The largest, heaviest boxes that take the most shelf space, marked with striped tape | 3x3x3 |  |
Spot stickers and damage marks
When a customer mentions a decoration or damage, check every side of the box, since these marks are not always on the front. To save time later, copy the sticker onto the front where the name sits, so you never have to rotate and inspect the same box twice.
| What the customer mentions | Mark to find |
|---|---|
| A duck | Duck sticker |
| A clover | Clover sticker |
| Lavender | Sprig of lavender sticker |
| A frog | Frog sticker |
| A lemon | Lemon sticker |
| Crocodiles | Beads that form a crocodile jaw |
| Long claws or an eagle attack | Scratch marks; the pattern varies, so look for anything similar |
Decode storage warnings from what they say
Some customers describe the condition of their package instead of its look, which tells you which room to search. These are the same constraints the scanner warns you about, so always scan incoming packages, including anything delivered by boat, before storing them.
| Constraint | Common customer keywords | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Fragile | “Be cautious, it’s fragile” | On top of everything else, never thrown |
| Heavy | Not lightweight, heavy, “hope you have someone to help you” | Low and alone, since it crushes anything under it |
| Cold | Ice cream, refrigerated, fish delivery, cold | Freezer room |
| Hot | Warm, dragons, hot room, “didn’t let it cool down” | Warm room |
| Dark | Dark, “away from the light” | Dark room |
| Light | Light, bright | Light room |
Partner packages are marked with a heart and are only ever shipped, never handed to a customer at the window. To find the matching half, place the heart box under the lamp in the scanner room at night and follow the wispy light it produces. Mark both boxes with the heart once you have the pair, since each half can have different storage needs.
Work the clues in the order the customer gives them and you will rarely hand over the wrong box. Names narrow the field first, shape confirms the match, and stickers or storage warnings settle any ties between packages that otherwise look the same.
