Long whiskers needing bit off the top (4)
I believe the answer is:
ache
'long whiskers' is the definition.
'ache' can be an answer for 'long' (to long for something is to ache for it). I'm not certain of the 'whiskers' bit.
'bit off the top' is the wordplay.
'bit off' becomes 'ac' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'top' means to remove the first letter.
'the' with its first letter taken off is 'he'.
'ac'+'he'='ACHE'
'needing' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ache that I've seen before include "Play up" , "Dull throbbing pain" , "Feel pain" , "Feel sore" , "Dull continuous pain" .)