CAT to CDT
-7hCAT
CATSOURCECDT
CDTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
CAT and CDT on the World Map
The map below highlights the CAT (Central Africa Time) and CDT (Central Daylight 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.
CDT – Central Daylight Time
UTC-05:00Central Daylight Time (CDT) is the daylight saving offset in the Central Time Zone, 5 hours behind UTC.
- •CDT is the same offset as EST (UTC-05:00), which can cause confusion.
- •CDT runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Comparing Time Zones: CAT and CDT
CAT runs on Central Africa Time (CAT) at UTC+02:00. CDT runs on Central Daylight Time (CDT) at UTC-05:00. That puts CAT 7 hours behind CDT — a difference of -7h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in CAT it is 2:00 AM in CDT. Midnight in CAT is 5:00 PM in CDT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
CAT to CDT time conversion table
| CAT (CAT) | CDT (CDT) | 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 CDT time
- Scheduling a call from CAT to CDT: a 10:00 AM start in CAT lands at 3:00 AM in CDT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both CAT and CDT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CAT time (9:00 AM–10:00 AM CDT). That is roughly 1 hours of usable overlap.
- Keeping family and friends in sync: knowing that 8:00 PM in CAT is 1:00 PM in CDT makes it easy to avoid calling at 3 AM.
- 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 CDT 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 CDT (Central Daylight Time)
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is observed during summer months in the US and Canadian portions of the Central Time Zone. Clocks are moved forward by one hour, aligning with Eastern Standard Time (EST). Most of Mexico and Central America do not observe CDT, staying on CST year-round.
Best time to call between CAT and CDT
Both CAT and CDT 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 CDT. That gives roughly 1 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
CAT and CDT overlap for only 60 minutes (4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT), so meetings have to be booked precisely.
CAT is 7 hours behind CDT (CAT UTC+02:00 → CDT UTC-05:00). The shared working window is 4:00 PM–5:00 PM CAT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
CAT
Does not observe DST
CDT
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-06:00 · DST: UTC-05:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
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 CDT?
CAT (CAT, UTC+02:00) is 7 hours behind CDT (CDT, UTC-05:00). The gap is currently -7h.
How do I convert CAT time to CDT time?
Add -7h to CAT local time. For example, 9:00 AM in CAT is 2:00 AM in CDT.
What time is it in CDT right now?
CDT uses CDT 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 CDT from CAT?
Call between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CAT — that maps to 9:00 AM–10:00 AM CDT and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, CAT or CDT?
CAT is 7 hours behind CDT. When it is 12:00 PM in CAT it is 5:00 AM in CDT.
Does daylight saving time affect the CAT–CDT difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -7h offset between CAT and CDT 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 CDT?
Not normally. The -7h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between CAT and CDT?
CDT is -7h from CAT.
What timezone is CAT in?
CAT operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is CDT in?
CDT 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 CDT timezone?
Major cities in the CDT timezone include Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Winnipeg, Nashville.
What is the UTC offset for CDT?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is at UTC-05:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to CST.
What should I know about the CDT timezone?
CDT is the same offset as EST (UTC-05:00), which can cause confusion. CDT runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
When is it midnight in CAT, what time is it in CDT?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in CAT (CAT), it is -7h later in CDT (CDT).
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