Cat has worked in the agricultural industry for over 25 years, leading the NFU's policy work on farmed animal health and welfare for 16 of those years. She read Agricultural Animal Science at Aberdeen University and attained a post graduate qualification in Farm Business Organisational Management from SRUC. She Chairs the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and sits on the Board of Directors for AMTRA and CHECS. She also sits on several Government / Industry steering groups shaping farming policy related to animal health and welfare. She was brought up in rural East Ayrshire in Scotland - an area with a rich farming history, but also still financially blighted by the loss of primary industries such as coal mining and paper milling. She practices Reiki and relaxes with gardening and music.