| LIFELINES | Ropes in fifty-one cats (9) |
| BLISS | Delight in fifty-one ships, British at first (5) |
| NINE | Humans : One : Cats : ___ ? |
| ALTO | One cat's sax-appeal? |
| IMBROGLIO | One cat laps British fuel up, making a mess (9) |
| ARCHITECT | Wren for one cat thrice damaged (9) |
| TENNESSEE | One in fifty backing East German city overall |
| ABSITOMEN | One cat breaks away, almost - touch wood |
| BELLRINGER | One of those knowing the ropes in church? (4,6) |
| IMOGEN | Woman takes one cat in from France |
| OCTANE | One cat is dissolved in fuel (6) |
| DIGIT | Little piggy, perhaps, in poke? One cat, ultimately |
| INITIATE | Show one the ropes in it and knot a tie (8) |
| EYELETS | Peepholes in walls; or, grommets for receiving cords, laces or ropes in boots, garments or sails (7) |
| PRISONER | Drunk ropes in last drinker behind the bars (8) |
| WISEGUYS | Partner, swapping tips for frauds, ropes in gangsters (4,4) |
| CORDAGE | Ropes in a ship's rigging |
| BELLRINGERS | Call lookalikes, those knowing the ropes in church (4-7) |
| BRAWN | Note uprising ropes in crude strength (5) |
| PHANTASMAL | Deceptive friend ropes in hard worker, possibly assistant stage manager |
