Cannot Convert to Shape/Need to Use Clipping Mask

I've got an ai file from Adobe Stock of some claw scratches that I want to use as a clipping mask over a cheetah print background. The scratch marks keep telling me "Cannot convert to shape". When I convert it to a compound back and put it over the cheetah print and create a clipping mask it uses the cheetah print rather than the scratch marks so the scratch marks disappear (even when they are laid over top of the cheetah print). Not sure what else to do at this point.