Cat springs, abandoning cover (5)

I believe the answer is:

ounce

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'cat' is the definition.
(ounce can mean a snow leopard)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for ounce that I've seen before include "Jaguar" , "Unit of weight - snow leopard" , "Small amount (of old pound)" , "prowler" , "One sixteenth of a pound" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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