CAT to COT
-7hCAT
CATSOURCECOT
COTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
CAT and COT on the World Map
The map below highlights the CAT (Central Africa Time) and COT (Colombia Time) timezone regions across the globe.
CAT – Central Africa Time
UTC+02:00Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+02:00) covers Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and neighbouring countries.
- •Central Africa Time is fixed at UTC+02:00 with no daylight saving.
- •CAT matches South Africa Standard Time (SAST) all year.
- •It is the same offset as Central European Time in winter.
- •Harare is level with Johannesburg and one hour ahead of Lagos.
COT – Colombia Time
UTC-05:00Colombia Time (COT) is the standard time for Colombia, 5 hours behind UTC.
- •Colombia does not observe daylight saving time.
- •COT is the same offset as EST (UTC-05:00).
- •Bogotá sits at 2,640m elevation, making it one of the highest capital cities.
Understanding the -7h Gap: CAT vs COT
CAT runs on Central Africa Time (CAT) at UTC+02:00. COT runs on Colombia Time (COT) at UTC-05:00. That puts CAT 7 hours behind COT — a difference of -7h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in CAT it is 2:00 AM in COT. Midnight in CAT is 5:00 PM in COT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
CAT to COT time conversion table
| CAT (CAT) | COT (COT) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 PM | previous day |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert CAT to COT time
- Scheduling a call from CAT to COT: a 10:00 AM start in CAT lands at 3:00 AM in COT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both CAT and COT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CAT time (9:00 AM–10:00 AM COT). That is roughly 1 hours of usable overlap.
- Coordinating a CAT-based team with COT contacts: quoting times in the other side's local clock — not your own — removes the single biggest source of missed meetings.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM CAT" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -7h gap is not.
- Block 4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from CAT and need COT colleagues present.
About CAT (Central Africa Time)
Central Africa Time (CAT) is fixed at UTC+02:00 all year across a broad belt of southern and central Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. None of these countries observes daylight saving time, so CAT never shifts. It is the same offset as South Africa Standard Time (SAST) and the winter version of Central European Time, which makes CAT a convenient bridge between African, European and Middle Eastern schedules — Harare is level with Johannesburg all year and one hour ahead of Lagos.
About COT (Colombia Time)
Colombia Time (COT) is used throughout Colombia. Colombia does not observe daylight saving time. COT shares the same offset as EST (UTC-05:00). Bogotá, the capital, is one of the largest cities in South America.
Best time to call between CAT and COT
Both CAT and COT sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT, which is 9:00 AM–10:00 AM COT. That gives roughly 1 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
CAT and COT overlap for only 60 minutes (4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT), so meetings have to be booked precisely.
CAT is 7 hours behind COT (CAT UTC+02:00 → COT UTC-05:00). The shared working window is 4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CAT and COT?
CAT (CAT, UTC+02:00) is 7 hours behind COT (COT, UTC-05:00). The gap is currently -7h.
How do I convert CAT time to COT time?
Add -7h to CAT local time. For example, 9:00 AM in CAT is 2:00 AM in COT.
What time is it in COT right now?
COT uses COT at UTC-05:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -7h offset from CAT.
What is the best time to call COT from CAT?
Call between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CAT — that maps to 9:00 AM–10:00 AM COT and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, CAT or COT?
CAT is 7 hours behind COT. When it is 12:00 PM in CAT it is 5:00 AM in COT.
Does daylight saving time affect the CAT–COT difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -7h offset between CAT and COT is fixed all year.
Which other cities share CAT's time zone?
CAT also covers Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Lilongwe, Kigali.
Which countries use CAT, CAT's zone?
CAT is used in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo (east).
Is there a day difference between CAT and COT?
Not normally. The -7h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between CAT and COT?
COT is -7h from CAT.
What timezone is CAT in?
CAT operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is COT in?
COT operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use CAT (Central Africa Time)?
CAT is used in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, and 1 more countries.
Does CAT observe daylight saving time?
No, CAT does not observe daylight saving time and remains at UTC+02:00 year-round.
What are some interesting facts about CAT?
Central Africa Time is fixed at UTC+02:00 with no daylight saving. CAT matches South Africa Standard Time (SAST) all year.
Which cities are in the COT timezone?
Major cities in the COT timezone include Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena.
What is the UTC offset for COT?
Colombia Time (COT) is at UTC-05:00.
What should I know about the COT timezone?
Colombia does not observe daylight saving time. COT is the same offset as EST (UTC-05:00).
When is it midnight in CAT, what time is it in COT?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in CAT (CAT), it is -7h later in COT (COT).
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