Before cutting a cable, the cable must be

Before cutting a cable, it is essential that the cable is seized. Seizing a cable involves securing it in place or ensuring that it is adequately secured to prevent movement. This practice is crucial because it helps avert any potential danger or injury that may arise from the cable slipping or inadvertently moving while being cut. Properly seizing a cable ensures that the cut is made in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring the integrity of the cable as well as the safety of personnel working with it.

The other options, while they may pertain to different maintenance or handling practices, do not directly address the critical aspect of securing the cable to ensure safe cutting. Cleaning might be relevant for maintenance purposes, stretching could relate to another phase of cable preparation, and kinked refers to a condition that might need to be corrected rather than a state of the cable before cutting. Seizing is specifically about safety in the context of cutting, underscoring its importance in this scenario.