Tie to the cat (4)
I believe the answer is:
lash
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'tie' is the first definition.
(lashing is a kind of tiing)
'the cat' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for lash that I've seen before include "Flog" , "Birch" , "Bind tightly with a rope or cord" , "Secure with rope" , "Beat; fasten with cord" .)