On leaving school, the young Cato was articled to a Barrister-at-law in Kingstown, and began his career in law and was called to the Bar, Middle Temple in 1948.
In 1945, he joined the First Canadian Army, attained the rank of Sergeant and gave active service in the Second World War in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Elected to the office of Chief Minister on 19 May 1967, as head of the St. Vincent Labour Party, Mr. Cato did much to improve the economic standing of the island.
Cato's Labour Party lost elections in 1972 and the opposition leader, James Fitz-Allen Mitchell became Premier.
[4] Mr. Cato, the longtime representative of the West St. George Constituency, was appointed leader of the opposition from August to November 1984[3] following his party's defeat in the general elections.