Solving the Cat and Mouse Problem

Here's a simple puzzle that I came across on Boing Boing the other day.

A swimming mouse is in a circular pond. A non-swimming cat on the perimeter of the pond can run four times as fast as the mouse can swim and will always run in the most optimal way around the pond to catch the mouse. The mouse can run faster than the cat. The question: can the mouse get away from the cat? Mathematician Ben Sparks explores different methods the mouse can try.

Give it some thought. It requires only the application of logic and some simple, middle school math. No algebra or calculus is required.