Old farm hand caught cat (5)

I believe the answer is:
churl
'cat' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for churl that I've seen before include "Surly type" , "Graceless person" , "Surly, ill-bred person" , "Rough, rude type" , "Bad-tempered person" .)
