Be short, like a sickly cat's tail (4)

I believe the answer is:

want

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'be short' is the definition.
'want' can be an answer for 'be' (wanting is a kind of being). I am not sure about the 'short' bit.

'a sickly cat's tail' is the wordplay.
'a sickly' becomes 'wan' (I've seen this before).
'tail' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'cat' is 't'.
'wan'+'t'='WANT'

'like' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for want that I've seen before include "Desire - deficiency" , "Need or desire" , "Desire to possess" , "poverty" , "'Wilful waste makes woeful . . . .'" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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