Parallel to professional activities, Catan graduated in 1981 from the Supreme School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR in Kiev, with a major in law.

A promotion followed first to the position of chief of the General Directorate for the prevention of economic crimes and crimes against the public treasury of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (1990–1991), then to the position of chief of Economic Police Directorate of the Ministry of Internal affairs in the Republic of Moldova (1991–1992).

During the period 22 May 1998 to 12 November 1999, Major General of Police Victor Catan acted as a Minister of Internal Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

In the period 25 September 2009–14 January 2011, General Catan served as Minister of Internal Affairs in the government led by Mr. Vlad Filat.

As an appreciation for his military merits, Catan was decorated with the Order Ștefan cel Mare ("Stephen the Great") by presidential decree Number 251 of 17 December 1992.