The cat exists as an object/process that can be perceived by the 6 senses of humans. An individual human can perceive ‘cat’. Whether the person perceives ‘I’ am experiencing ‘cat’ (and all the proliferations and sankharas that go with this) or whether the experience of the senses occurs without identification and ownership is the key.
That is to say - see only what is seen (sight), hear only what is heard (sound), feel only what is touched/felt) etc…
AN 4.24 At Kāḷaka’s Monastery —Bhikkhu Sujato
At Kāḷaka’s Monastery24.SuttaCentral Kāḷakārāmasutta
So a Realized One sees what is to be seen, but does not identify with what is seen, does not identify with what is unseen, does not identify with what is to be seen, and does not identify with a seer.
Iti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato daṭṭhā daṭṭhabbaṃ, diṭṭhaṃ na maññati, adiṭṭhaṃ na maññati, daṭṭhabbaṃ na maññati, daṭṭhāraṃ na maññati;
He hears what is to be heard, but does not identify with what is heard, does not identify with what is unheard, does not identify with what is to be heard, and does not identify with a hearer.
sutvā sotabbaṃ, sutaṃ na maññati, asutaṃ na maññati, sotabbaṃ na maññati, sotāraṃ na maññati;
He thinks what is to be thought, but does not identify with what is thought, does not identify with what is not thought, does not identify with what is to be thought, and does not identify with a thinker.
mutvā motabbaṃ, mutaṃ na maññati, amutaṃ na maññati, motabbaṃ na maññati, motāraṃ na maññati;
He knows what is to be known, but does not identify with what is known, does not identify with what is unknown, does not identify with what is to be known, and does not identify with a knower.
viññatvā viññātabbaṃ, viññātaṃ na maññati, aviññātaṃ na maññati, viññātabbaṃ na maññati, viññātāraṃ na maññati.
Since a Realized One is poised in the midst of things seen, heard, thought, and known, he is the poised one.
Iti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato diṭṭhasutamutaviññātabbesu dhammesu tādīyeva tādī.
And I say that there is no-one who has better or finer poise than this.