A missing pet's hard to catch, having fouled dishes (8)
I believe the answer is:
ashtrays
'fouled dishes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a missing pet's hard to catch' is the wordplay.
'missing pet's hard' becomes 'sht' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to catch' becomes 'rays' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'sht'+'rays'='ASHTRAYS'
'having' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ashtrays that I've seen before include "Receptacles for tobacco detritus" , "butts in these?" , "Receptacles for smokers" , "where fags end up" , "Receptacles removed from pub" .)