Welcome to Cat Automotive

We carry a large stock of spare car parts in our accessory shop for most major branded models of cars on the road. We are open 7 days a week to supply car parts to trade and private customers.

Our primary objective is to provide a first class service to all our customers, and quickly!

The detailed range of stock carried, combined with an exceptional delivery service means that the parts you need will be with you exactly when you what them.

Our comprehensive range of car accessories and components are sourced from all the main automobile spare parts manufacturers and through use of our extensive computer systems we are able to keep track of literally thousands of car parts, accessories and forecourt products.CAT Automotive not only offer a vast array of carefully selected, high quality branded products, we also ensure that the stock levels held at our Whitstable warehouse mean customers are not kept waiting for 'out of stock' parts .We stock a variety of products including body paints, batteries, shock absorbers, quality automotive lubricants, in-car entertainment, cleaning material, number plates and car care products. Many other car parts and accessories for all makes and models of cars and vans are also available.

In addition to our motor factoring business we also offer hire rentals for cars, people carriers, vans, lorries and minibuses through our sister company - Practical Car and Van Hire.

CAT Automotive History

In the December of 1984, Car and Truck Components Ltd, as it was then known, opened its doors for trading to the public on the Smeed Dean Centre in Sittingbourne Kent. Its name originated from the car and truck industry not from Corinne and Tony as many thought at the time. At its helm were Tony Kent and Tony Humphreys, both ex managers of Godfrey Holmes, a national motor factors.

All accounting including invoices, statements, etc were handwritten and stock was controlled by the use of a cardex system.

After three years of trading the Company moved premises to the West Lane Trading Estate, where it enjoyed many years of trading providing a quick efficient service to their growing number of customers both in Sittingbourne and on the Isle of Sheppey.

In 1990 the Company deciding that the time was right to expand opened its second branch in Whitstable. Located on the John Wilson Business Park it provided the necessay link up between Sittingbourne and the surrounding areas. Whitstable branch can still be found on the same site today.

In 1992 Tony Humphrey’s decided to leave the Company to pursue his own interests and Tony Kent acquired two new partners, Phil Day, already an established member of staff and Ian Smith who joined the Company after holding the position of Sales Manager for SACHS for many years.

Further expansion by the Company resulted in their third branch opening in Dover in 1996.

In 1998 the Company changed its original name from Car and Truck Components Ltd to CAT Automotive Ltd.

Within the past three years the Company has ventured into the vehicle rental business under the Practical banner. This is managed by Ian Smith out of all the Cat Automotive Ltd locations and now has access to hundreds of vehicles of all different types.

In April 2004 Cat Automotive Ltd opened its fourth branch in Thanet on the Westwood Industrial Estate located in Margate, with Stephen Homewood as manager.

With 44 members of staff, Cat Automotive Ltd has come a long way from its initial early days and has high hopes for its expansion in the coming years.