An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kater

Kater, masculine, ‘tom-cat,’ from the equivalent Middle High German kater, katere, masculine, Old High German chataro, masculine; the r of Kater appears to be a masculine suffix; compare Morder and Mord, Tauber and Taube; Enter-ich and Ente?, Ganser and Gans?, &c., Compare Katze.