Webster's 1828 Dictionary
CATERWAULING
n.The cry of cats; a harsh disagreeable noise or cry.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
CATERWAULING
CATERWAULING Cat "er *waul `ing, n.
Defn: The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats. Shak.
Oxford Thesaurus
caterwauling
caterwauling noun the caterwauling of an aggressive cat: howl, howling, wail, wailing, screech, screeching, shriek, shrieking, scream, screaming, bawl, bawling, cry, crying, yell, yelling, yelp, yelping, yowl, yowling, squall, squalling, whine, whining, ululating; miaowing, miaow.
Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary
caterwauling
c á t er w à ul ing 名詞 U 1 (発情期のネコの )ギャーギャー鳴く声 (caterwaul ); それに類似した声 [音 ].2 ｟比喩的に ｠〖形容詞的に 〗〈音 声などが 〉かん高く不愉快な .
The Wordsmith Dictionary