Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cat v.³

1. (US teen/gang) to loaf about.

1960, 1975

Wentworth & Flexner DAS 91/1: cat v. To loaf or idle; to spend one’s time idling on street corners.

2. (UK Black) to look for an opportunity.

2015		150 ‘4 Door Truck’ 🎵 All my youngers are savage there catting to grab on the steel.
2020		G. Krauze What They Was 17: There were always nittys [...] damp and sticky-skinned with rotten black mouths [...] catting to get some b and work .

In derivatives

catting (UK black)

1. desirous of.

2018-20

T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Catting - craving, yearning for.

2. copying.

2018-20

T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Catting - copying.

In phrases

cat on (v.)

(US black) to leech on, to exploit .

1971

R.D. Pharr S.R.O. (1998) 396: He staggered into the Picket Arms to cat on Gloria and never again drew a sober breath.