cat ‧ er ‧ waul /ˈkætəwɔːl $ -tərwɒːl/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: cat + waul 'to cry out' (15-20 centuries) (from the sound) ]
to make a loud high unpleasant noise like the sound a cat makes
—caterwauling noun [uncountable] :
the sound of drunken caterwauling coming from next door