 After military service, he graduated from the Special Militia School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR in Chișinău (1970–1972).After graduation, he worked as an inspector of the economic and state treasury police department of the internal affairs section in Anenii Noi in the Republic of Moldova (1972–1976) and afterwards as an inspector, senior inspector and Chief of the economic and public treasury police department of the Internal Affairs section in Bender (aka Tighina) (1976–1985).Parallel to professional activities, Mr. Catan graduated in 1981 from the Supreme School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR in Kiev, with study major in law.