In Rat-a-Tat Cat, the goal is to have the lowest point value in cards at the end of the game. Each player is dealt 4 face-down cards in front of them. Players can look at their first and fourth card only once at the beginning of the game, and then keep their cards face down for the remainder of the game. Players take turns revealing cards from the top of a communal deck, deciding whether to discard the revealed card or to swap it for one of their four face-down cards. When a player believes they have the lowest score, they must knock on the table and say "RAT-A-TAT-CAT." Each other player gets one more turn, then all cards are revealed. The player with the lowest score wins!