The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Caterwaul \Cat"er*waul\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Caterwauling.] [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a
   cat.]
   To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive
   noise. --Coleridge.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Caterwaul \Cat"er*waul\, n.
   A caterwauling.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

caterwaul
    n 1: the yowling sound made by a cat in heat
    v 1: utter shrieks, as of cats [syn: yowl, caterwaul]