Crossword Genius

Every second fat cat ready to have performed . . . (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

acted

'performed' is the definition.
(acting is a kind of performing)

'every second fat cat ready' is the wordplay.
'every second' means one should take alternating letters (I've seen 'every second of' mean this).
'fat'+'cat'+'ready'='fatcatready'
The alternating letters of 'fatcatready' are 'ACTED'.

'to have' is the link.

(Other definitions for acted that I've seen before include "Behaved like thespian" , "Feigned" , "exerted influence" , "Posed as" , "Pretended" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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