Puma ultimately protecting paw (4)
I believe the answer is:
maul
'paw' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'puma ultimately protecting' is the wordplay.
'protecting' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'MAUL' is hidden in the letters of 'puma ultimately'.
(Other definitions for maul that I've seen before include "Injure with claws" , "Injure by pawing" , "Batter - lacerate" , "Wound by scratching and tearing - rugby move" , "Handle roughly, batter" .)