Cats learn to be like earlier family members (9)

I believe the answer is:

ancestral

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'earlier family members' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'cats learn to be' is the wordplay.
'to be' indicates an anagram.
'cats'+'learn'='catslearn'
'catslearn' is an anagram of 'ANCESTRAL'.

'like' is the link.

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(Other definitions for ancestral that I've seen before include "Like many an old family home" , "from old-timers" , "description of voices prophesying war?" , "of predecessors" , "Relating to one's forebears" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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