Cat's regular check over (3)

I believe the answer is:

tom

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'cat's' is the definition.
(a tom is a male cat)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for tom that I've seen before include "Hoyden" , "Jerry's cartoon adversary" , "Cruise" , "queen's consort?" , "Male feline" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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