Muley said "they'd been tractored out by the cats." Who or what were the Cats? Caterpillar brand tractors? Fat Cat bankers? or ...?

I sang this song at the Foyle Folk Club, Verbal Arts Centre, Derry, Ireland this weekend. John Steinbeck's son Thom will be speaking at the Verbal Arts Centre on Wed, 29 May. I understand John Steinbeck's mother came from County Derry. The song sort of backfired; a few people talked to me about it during the interval but mostly to complement me on my memory of all the verses!

regarding the title of this thread, recordings I'm aware of are Woody Guthrie, Cisco Huston (if my memory is correct) and Andy Irvine. Andy put a different tune to it, but I sing the original version.