Declare liable for docking cat (9)
I believe the answer is:
pronounce
'declare' is the definition.
(I know that pronounce is a type of declare)
'liable for docking cat' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'for' could be 'pro' (as in being 'pro' something) and 'pro' is located in the answer.
'cat' could be 'ounce' (ounce can mean a snow leopard) and 'ounce' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'n' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pronounce that I've seen before include "Articulate - judge" , "Articulate clearly" , "say" , "Enunciate" , "Articulate in a certain way" .)