After graduating from Indiana University with a bachelor of arts in journalism, Catt decided to combine her passions for arts and entertainment and her background in music into a career in entertainment television. Her first job was as general assignment reporter at WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, where she reported live for the Fox 59 News at 10.

In 1998, she was hired as the entertainment reporter for KBWB/KNTV in San Francisco. For almost four years, Catt hosted a nightly lifestyle segment called "The Bay Beat" on the 10 p.m. news. She also regularly traveled to Los Angeles and New York to interview actors, musicians and other celebrities. These were included in her "Stargazing" segment.

In addition to her reporting segments, in 2003, Catt began cohosting the Indiana Lottery's Hoosier Millionaire, which became the longest-running syndicated-lottery game show in the country. And for the 2003-04 NBA season, Catt was also the official emcee for the Indiana Pacers.