Claude-Nicolas Le Cat (6 September 1700 – 20 August 1768) was a French surgeon and science communicator.

Their only daughter, Charlotte-Bonne, married the surgeon Jean-Pierre David (fr), who succeeded Le Cat in all his offices.

In 1731, his interest in replicating human anatomical forms and movements stimulated Vaucanson to begin work on his first automaton.

[7] In 1732, he performed lateral lithotomy approach to removing bladder stones using the technique invented by Frère Jacques Beaulieu and improved by William Cheselden.

His reputation in France and Europe is reflected by his numerous academy prizes, publications, and surgical notoriety.