Wshat does cat means on the dashbord? n why my car

There will be a button on the dashboard somewhere (or next to the gearshift perhaps) that has the winter symbol on it. The reason you are starting in 2nd is that you have selected winter mode (possibly hit it while cleaning?) and to make it safer to take off, 2nd gear is used (less likely to lose traction)

Read fault codes . Check cat converter for failure /blocking exhaust system

over drive
for driving the car at speeds over 62 mph and save petrol consumption

All your cats are ruined
All your O2 Sensors are ruined

Now you need to find out why the cat failed, in less than 15 years
BEFORE you replace them all.

What does-just did an engine mean?

For the converter to be red hot, the
timing chains are out of wack or
your putting a lot of raw fuel into them

Most likely cause fuel pressure ineffient. It is also possible the catalytic convertors are clogging up. Next time it happens feel the floor board above the cats if it is hot then you most likely know what is causing your issue is clogged cats.

check your cat. converter it might be clogged my cavaleir was acting like that and it was the cat was bad had it replaced with straight pipe ran great hope this helps

To what degree do you lose power and in what way? Do you loose over-drive or does it loose power and speed (on the streets, highway, or at any speed). From your discription it does sound like either a fuel flow/pressure issue or a clogged cat.

dont think cat is issue cat's only lower emmisions sounds like if u have and accelerator cable binded which is causing this or could be tps sensor faulty ts can cause throttlebody to malfunction

does it feel like it si losing power? check your cat converter. it may be clogged up