The Catani are by far the ethnic majority of the wastes. They are so numerous and diverse that it is difficult to make too many generalizations about them. They are a pragmatic people valuing courage and hard work above all else. As a rule, they are not especially bound by tradition and readily adopt new technology.
This willingness to adopt new technology means, in some cases, the Catan rival or even surpass the Empire in technological advancements. This is especially true in the area of duneships and firearms. While in some ways Imperial firearms are considered the pinnacle of weaponry, Catani prefer to carry custom-made weapons, ones that use the new brass cartridges as opposed to the paper cartridges preferred in the Empire.
In most settlements, the Catan have rigid gender roles and live in male-dominated societies where men tend to matters of work, war, and government and women tend to home and children. Catani modesty requires that men and women keep most of their bodies covered.
Catani men wear practical clothing; usually, button-down shirts tucked into long pants and a wide-brimmed hat. Footwear is most often knee-high boots. To protect themselves from cold, wind, or sun, they will wear either a long split coat or poncho. They support their pants with suspenders, so weapons are worn on a separate belt worn over their clothes.
Catani women wear colorful and often elaborate dresses. Corsets are no longer as popular as they once were, but the dresses remain snug through the torso and flowing below the waist, often using multiple layers to add volume. To protect themselves from cold and wind, they usually wrap a small blanket or shawl around their shoulders. Like men, the most common footwear is tall boots. Women may also wear wide-brimmed hats but decorated with colorful lace or flowers, or they may opt for simpler bonnet style headwear.
Social activities are left to the women. Men enjoy them as well, but they pretend to be uninterested, and women handle all the logistics. Catani love social gatherings, from dinner get-togethers to festivals and fairs. Depending on the wealth and beliefs of the people in question, these can range from simple to grand affairs.
Catani are generally peaceful; however, any sign of cowardice or backing down from a fight could cause a permanent loss of respect in Catani communities. They are standoffish and distrustful of strangers but will almost always offer hospitality to travelers regardless. They believe that anyone who turns away travelers without cause will find themselves in the same situation one day. This belief is common across many wastelander cultures.
The Catani follow a form of ancestor worship. They believe that the Founders had not only the ability to travel the space between the stars but also the space between time, and if you live your life in a way that makes your ancestors proud, then one day the Founders will return and collect the worthy throughout time before they can meet their deaths. The degree to which people believe this varies from person to person and from people to people. What exactly qualifies someone as worthy is also debated.