Act timidly, but one could show claws (9)

I believe the answer is:

pussyfoot

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'act timidly' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for pussyfoot that I've seen before include "to be tentative" , "Go stealthily or cautiously" , "Creep" , "[CATS PAW] ?" , "Act timidly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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