Possible Clues:

• Its length one associated with cats?
• Means of escape in the palm of one's hand
• Help on '... Millionaire'
• Tom maybe will go east of Long Island to get vital link
• In the beginning, long one assigned to cat?
• Battery-powered cat?
• One's cornered by large cat, needing rope
• Left one like cat in escape option
• Large one like cat has escape option
• Means of rescue — crease on the palm