Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) to hide away, esp. from the police.

1953		W. Brown Run, Chico, Run (1959) 33: We’re supposed to be catting up in case the nabs have wised up to us and you make such a row maybe the neighbours call the cops.
1959		W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 86: A big house. Spacious grounds [...] How could they find a better place to cat up while the heat was on?