Kitty's backing call for strike (8)
I believe the answer is:
stoppage
'strike' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'kitty's backing call for' is the wordplay.
'kitty's' becomes 'pots' ('pot' can be a synonym of 'kitty').
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'call for' becomes 'page' (paging is a kind of calling for).
'pots' back-to-front is 'stop'.
'stop'+'page'='STOPPAGE'
(Other definitions for stoppage that I've seen before include "Blockage or cessation" , "Deduction in wages" , "Obstruction" , "action by strikers" , "sit-in" .)