Symbol the Egyptians originally found in cat? (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'symbol' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the egyptians originally found in cat' is the wordplay.
'originally' suggests taking the first letters.
'found in' indicates putting letters inside.
'cat' becomes 'tom' (a tom is a male cat).
The initial letters of 'the egyptians' is 'te'.
'te' put into 'tom' is 'TOTEM'.
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Native American symbol" , "Motet (anag.)" , "Symbolic pole" , "Primitive object of worship" , "Revered symbol" .)