While they share a rich heritage, the Caterpillar and Cat brands are distinctly different. In the early years of Caterpillar’s history, the term Cat was synonymous with Caterpillar. Both described dependable, industry-leading machines and the company that built them. In the 1950s, as the product line expanded, Cat emerged as a distinct brand in its own right. Thirty years later, the Cat logo was introduced, becoming the main identifier for products and services and the dealers that distributed them. Today, the Cat brand is one of many brands owned by Caterpillar, and it represents the largest and most respected family of products and services in earth-moving industries across the world. Backed by the unmatched support of a global network of Cat dealers, Cat products and services deliver superior quality and long term value, helping to accelerate the success of our customers worldwide.