The town is situated on the N6, 48 kilometres (30 mi) north of Stutterheim en route to Komani.

It was named after the governor of the Colony of the Good Hope in 1852-1853, Sir George Cathcart.

Work on its railway connection to East London on the coast was begun by the Cape government of John Molteno in 1876, and the line was officially opened on 3 November 1879.

[3] St. Alban's Anglican Church,[a] built in 1886 is a well known landmark in Cathcart and has an unusual and distinctive Western façade.

Cathcart High School is located north of the town near the N6 route to Queenstown.