Very little is known of him; he is generally only mentioned in connection with his more famous nephew Saint Blane, who was born on Bute and later proselytized among the Picts. Both saints were strongly associated with Bute and with Kingarth monastery, which became the center of their cults.[3][4]
A number of churches were dedicated to Cathan across Scotland's western islands.
Tobar Chattan, or Cathan's Well, at Little Kilchattan on Bute may represent the site of Cathan's original church.[3]
Kilchattan Church on Luing.[5][6][7] The Luing church served the historical Kilchattan parish; the modern Kilchattan Church was built at Achafolla in 1936.[8]
Cathan is said to have lived for a time at the monastery at Stornoway on the isle of Lewis, and his relics are said to have been housed at a chapel founded by Clan MacLeod on the same island.[9]
Several families on Bute bore the honoured name of Mac-gill-chattan—son of the servant of Catan and on account of the frequent occurrence of names similarly connected with those of saints who had churches dedicated to them in this vicinity e.g., Mac-gill-munn, Macgill-chiaran, Mac-gill-mhichell,—and connected with church offices, Mac-gill-espy (bishop), Mac-gill-Christ etc.
Cattanachs are said to be families that followed or were originally servants or Coarbs of this Saint and include founder families such as Macbean, MacPherson, and MacPhail[12] of the Chattan Confederation, a coalition of Scottish clans.[9]
^Hewison, James. King; The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time, with illustartions, maps and plans Vol 1 Celtic Saints and Heroes, Published by William Blackwood and sons, Edinburgh and London, 1893
