diff --git a/make/autoconf.mk b/make/autoconf.mk
index e21ce97c..5b776e69 100644
--- a/make/autoconf.mk
+++ b/make/autoconf.mk
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ confclean:
 	rm -rf $(DISTCLEAN) $(CLEAN) $(AC_FILES) autom4te.cache
 
 configure.ac: configure.ac.tmpl VERSION
-	cat $< | $(SED) -e "s/_VERSION_/`cat VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//'`/" > $@
+	$(CAT) $< | $(SED) -e "s/_VERSION_/`$(CAT) VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//'`/" > $@
 
 configure: configure.ac
 	autoconf $< > $@
diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index bebb0727..3e9970e9 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ endif
 
 # ----- executables
 SED                    = /usr/bin/sed
+CAT                    = /bin/cat
 
 PROJECT_DESCR_FILE    ?= $(wildcard $(TOPDIR)/doc/share/project.txt)
 PROJECT               ?= $(patsubst $(FLAVOUR_PREFIX)%,%,$(notdir $(shell cd $(TOPDIR); pwd | $(SED) 's/.*\///; s/-[0-9].*//')))
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ PROJECT_DESCR         ?= No description
 CUSTOMER              ?= jannet
 
 VERSION_FILE          ?= $(firstword $(wildcard VERSION $(TOPDIR)/VERSION))
-VERSION               ?= $(shell cat $(VERSION_FILE))
+VERSION               ?= $(shell $(CAT) $(VERSION_FILE))
 DIST_VERSION          ?= $(shell $(SED) -e "s/-dev//" $(VERSION_FILE))
 HEX_VERSION            = $(shell echo $(DIST_VERSION) | \
 	$(SED) 's/-dev//; s/pre[^\.]*//; s/F[^\.]//; s/[\.-]/ /g' | xargs printf "0x%02x%02x%02x%02x")
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ MOD_SCRIPT_DIR        ?= $(firstword $(wildcard $(MODDIR)/devutil/scripts $(MODD
 endif
 YTOOLS_DIR             = $(MODDIR)
 PROJECT_STEM           = $(PROJECT)-$(DIST_VERSION)
-CVS_ROOT_DIR           = $(shell test -d CVS && pwd | $(SED) -e "s%`cat CVS/Repository`%%; s%/$$%%")
+CVS_ROOT_DIR           = $(shell test -d CVS && pwd | $(SED) -e "s%`$(CAT) CVS/Repository`%%; s%/$$%%")
 REV_SUBDIRS            = $(shell echo $(SUBDIRS) | awk '{for (i=NF; i>=1; i--) printf ("%s ",$$i)}')
 FRESH_CVSDIR           = $(HOME)/local/src/cvs.fresh
 IMAGE_DIR             ?= $(CVS_ROOT_DIR)/images
@@ -545,13 +546,13 @@ define beautify_lib_path
 	$(SED) 's/:/\n  + /g'
 endef
 
-#$(shell cat $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//; s/-[^-]*$$//')
-define cat_version
-$(shell cat $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//')
+#$(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//; s/-[^-]*$$//')
+define $(CAT)_version
+$(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//')
 endef
 
 define version
-$(shell cat $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-.*//')
+$(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-.*//')
 endef
 
 define install_links
diff --git a/make/dist.mk b/make/dist.mk
index 245c1687..e411ecfa 100644
--- a/make/dist.mk
+++ b/make/dist.mk
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ $(SSI_PREFIX)%.html: $(TMPHTML) $(SSI_DOWNLOAD_TMPL)
 	SIZE=`ls -l $(DIST_FILE) | awk '{print $$5}'`;\
 	FILENAME=`basename $(DIST_FILE)` ;\
 	URLDIR=`echo $(DOWNLOAD_URLDIR) | $(SED) -e 's/\\//\\\\\//g;'` ;\
-	cat $(SSI_DOWNLOAD_TMPL) | $(SED) -e "\
+	$(CAT) $(SSI_DOWNLOAD_TMPL) | $(SED) -e "\
 		s/_VERSION_/$(LOCAL_DIST_VERSION)/g;\
 		s/_PROJECT_/$(LOCAL_PROJECT)/g;\
 		s/_TARGET_STEM_//g;\
diff --git a/make/isolinux.mk b/make/isolinux.mk
index 91ef7791..d2fd2d8b 100644
--- a/make/isolinux.mk
+++ b/make/isolinux.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 URL_BASE     = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux
 URL_FILE     = SYSLINUX_URL
-URL          = $(shell cat $(URL_FILE))
+URL          = $(shell $(CAT) $(URL_FILE))
 DLOAD_DIR    = /home/samba/dat/share/exe/linux/syslinux
 BUILD_DIR    = cd_root
 DIRS         = $(DLOAD_DIR) $(BUILD_DIR)
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ $(URL_FILE):
 	mv $@.tmp $@
 
 dload.done: $(URL_FILE)
-	wget -c $(shell cat $<) -P $(DLOAD_DIR)
+	wget -c $(shell $(CAT) $<) -P $(DLOAD_DIR)
 	touch $@
 
 $(MENU_32): unpack.done
diff --git a/make/linux-rpm-build.mk b/make/linux-rpm-build.mk
index eeaa5e71..2edae024 100644
--- a/make/linux-rpm-build.mk
+++ b/make/linux-rpm-build.mk
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # abbreviations
 define EXTRAVERSION
-$(shell cat EXTRAVERSION)
+$(shell $(CAT) EXTRAVERSION)
 endef
 define COMPLETE_VERSION
-$(shell cat COMPLETE_VERSION)
+$(shell $(CAT) COMPLETE_VERSION)
 endef
 
 HOST                ?= $(HOSTNAME)
diff --git a/make/linux-rpm.mk b/make/linux-rpm.mk
index 30b9802e..757fa1c5 100644
--- a/make/linux-rpm.mk
+++ b/make/linux-rpm.mk
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 define EXTRAVERSION
-$(shell cat EXTRAVERSION)
+$(shell $(CAT) EXTRAVERSION)
 endef
 
 define COMPLETE_VERSION
-$(shell cat COMPLETE_VERSION)
+$(shell $(CAT) COMPLETE_VERSION)
 endef
 
 KERNEL_MAJOR         = $(shell echo $(KERNEL_VERSION) | cut -d\. -f1)
diff --git a/make/rpmdist.mk b/make/rpmdist.mk
index c0ea1729..8b6fce4d 100644
--- a/make/rpmdist.mk
+++ b/make/rpmdist.mk
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ define check_cvs_sync
 	cvs update -dP ;\
 	cvs status > cvs_status.tmp 2>&1 ;\
 	if [ $$? != 0 ]; then \
-		cat cvs_status.tmp ;\
+		$(CAT) cvs_status.tmp ;\
 		echo -e "\n======== cvs status failed, giving up." >&2 ;\
 		exit 1 ;\
 	fi ;\
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ try-reinstall:
 	$(check_reinstall_old)
 
 rpm-update-release:
-	@if [ "`cat HASH`" != "$(HASH)" ]; then \
+	@if [ "`$(CAT) HASH`" != "$(HASH)" ]; then \
 		echo + source was modified ;\
 		$(increase_build_number) ;\
 	elif ! $(check_reinstall_old); then \
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ rpm-update-release:
 	fi
 
 rpm-check-release:
-	@if [ "`cat HASH`" != "$(HASH)" ]; then \
+	@if [ "`$(CAT) HASH`" != "$(HASH)" ]; then \
 		echo + source was modified ;\
 	else \
 		echo + source is unmodified ;\
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ rpm-release: rpm-update-release
 		if ! grep -q $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE) CVS/Entries; then \
 			cvs add $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE) ;\
 		fi ;\
-		cvs commit -m "o `cat $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE)`" $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE) ;\
+		cvs commit -m "o `$(CAT) $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE)`" $(LAST_RPM_VERSION_FILE) ;\
 	else \
 		echo "+ version matches latest relea$(SED) rpm version" ;\
 	fi
diff --git a/make/rules.mk b/make/rules.mk
index 98c83f4a..d465bcec 100644
--- a/make/rules.mk
+++ b/make/rules.mk
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ $(LIB_SO): $(VERSION_SCRIPT) $(LIB_A) $(TOPDIR)/dir_build_LIB.done
 		$(filter-out -l$(LIBNAME),$(LDFLAGS)) -o $@
 else
 $(WINRES_RC): $(WINRES_RC_TMPL)
-	cat $< | $(SED) " \
+	$(CAT) $< | $(SED) " \
 		s/__VER_FILEVERSION__/$(MAJOR_VERSION),$(MINOR_VERSION),$(RELEASE_VERSION),$(BUILD_NUMBER)/; \
 		s/__VER_FILEVERSION_STR__/$(MAJOR_VERSION).$(MINOR_VERSION).$(RELEASE_VERSION).$(BUILD_NUMBER)/; \
 		s/__VER_DESCRIPTION__/\"$(PROJECT_DESCR)\"/; \
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ INSTALLATION_FILE_TYPES += LIB HDR EXE INIT DOC PROFILE MAKE CFG \
 #$(foreach attr,OWNER GROUP MODE,$(foreach type, $(INSTALLATION_FILE_TYPES),\
 #	$(eval $(call std_install_rules,$(type)$(attr)))))
 
-# --- special installation rules, that the general rules below dont catch
+# --- special installation rules, that the general rules below doesn't catch
 #     for whatever reason >
 %: %.init
 	cp $< $@
diff --git a/make/run.mk b/make/run.mk
index 78d798d9..34793f82 100644
--- a/make/run.mk
+++ b/make/run.mk
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ supp.tmp:
 	valgrind  --gen-suppressions=all $(EXE_PATH) $(EXE_ARGS) 2>$@.tmp; mv $@.tmp $@ || exit 0
 
 vg-create-supp: supp.tmp
-	cat $< | $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/parse-valgrind-suppressions.sh > local.supp
+	$(CAT) $< | $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/parse-valgrind-suppressions.sh > local.supp
 	rm -f supp.tmp
 
 vg-add-supp:
-	cat | $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/parse-valgrind-suppressions.sh >> local.supp
+	$(CAT) | $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/parse-valgrind-suppressions.sh >> local.supp
 
 vg-clean-supp:
 	rm -f local.supp
diff --git a/make/smart-selection.mk b/make/smart-selection.mk
index 4be69ce9..8fd3dcb9 100644
--- a/make/smart-selection.mk
+++ b/make/smart-selection.mk
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ smart-update.done:
 	touch $@
 
 %-packages.txt-install: smart-update.done
-	cat $*-packages.txt | xargs sudo smart install -y
+	$(CAT) $*-packages.txt | xargs sudo smart install -y
 
 %-channels.txt-replace:
 	sudo smart channel -y --remove-all
diff --git a/make/test-exe.mk b/make/test-exe.mk
index 2cf5fdf2..ede77e47 100644
--- a/make/test-exe.mk
+++ b/make/test-exe.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ clean: testclean
 
 test.done:
 	if ! 2>&1 make run > test.out 2>&1; then \
-		cat test.out; \
+		$(CAT) test.out; \
 		exit 1; \
 	fi
 	touch $@
diff --git a/make/tex.mk b/make/tex.mk
index 02bf9aa7..56bb18c6 100644
--- a/make/tex.mk
+++ b/make/tex.mk
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ define mangle_tmpl
 	@echo "+ generating $< -> $@"
 	@if [ $(suffix $@) = tex ];  then echo -e $(TEX_WARN_DONT_EDIT)  > $@; fi
 	@if [ $(suffix $@) = html ]; then echo -e $(HTML_WARN_DONT_EDIT) > $@; fi
-	cat $< | $(SED) -e "\
+	$(CAT) $< | $(SED) -e "\
 		s%__DATE__%$(DATE)%g; \
 		s%__AUTHORS__%$(AUTHORS)%g; \
 		s%__CONTACT_EMAIL__%$(CONTACT_EMAIL)%g; \
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ $(HTMLDIR): $(LATEX_INPUT) $(HTML_INPUT)
 	latex $(TEX4HT_FIRST_LATEX_LINE) $(MAIN)
 	tex4ht $(MAIN)
 	t4ht -d$(HTMLDIR) $(MAIN)
-	#cat index_head.html $(MAIN.html) index_tail.html > index.html
-	cat $(MAIN.html) > index.html
+	#$(CAT) index_head.html $(MAIN.html) index_tail.html > index.html
+	$(CAT) $(MAIN.html) > index.html
 	mv *.html *.css $(HTMLDIR)
 	mkdir -p $(addprefix $(HTMLDIR)/,$(sort $(dir $(shell $(CMD_PARSE_GRAPHICS)))))
 	for g in $(sort $(shell $(CMD_PARSE_GRAPHICS))); do cp $$g $(HTMLDIR)/$$g; done
diff --git a/make/upload.mk b/make/upload.mk
index 4d18431d..581a0584 100644
--- a/make/upload.mk
+++ b/make/upload.mk
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ UPLOAD_MODULE_PATH    ?= $(UPLOAD_TEST_PREFIX)proj/$(UPLOAD_MODULE)
 UPLOAD_FILE_ROOT      ?= $(UPLOAD_VHOST_ROOT)/$(UPLOAD_MODULE_PATH)
 UPLOAD_TARGET_PREFIX  ?= rsync_ssh://$(UPLOAD_HOST_LOGIN)@$(UPLOAD_HOST):$(UPLOAD_FILE_ROOT)/
 UPLOAD_LAST_VERSION_FILE ?= LAST_UPLOADED_VERSION
-UPLOAD_LAST_VERSION   ?= $(shell cat $(UPLOAD_LAST_VERSION_FILE) 2>/dev/null)
+UPLOAD_LAST_VERSION   ?= $(shell $(CAT) $(UPLOAD_LAST_VERSION_FILE) 2>/dev/null)
 #UPLOAD_FILES          ?= 
 REMOTE_TARGETS        ?= \
 	$(foreach f,$(UPLOAD_FILES),$(UPLOAD_TARGET_PREFIX)$f:$(UPLOAD_FILE_MODE):$(UPLOAD_DIR_MODE):$(UPLOAD_USER).$(UPLOAD_GROUP))
diff --git a/make/zip-windows-files.mk b/make/zip-windows-files.mk
index 75eaa764..4d61c06b 100644
--- a/make/zip-windows-files.mk
+++ b/make/zip-windows-files.mk
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ $(WINLIB): $(REQUIRED_H)
 	cp tools/*.h $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/include
 	cp $(SHARED_INCLUDE)/*.h $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/include
 	cp $(WINLIB) $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/lib
-	cat test/dsprout/win32/dsprout.dsp | . scripts/distify_vcpp_dsp.sh ../.. > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/console/dsprot.dsp
+	$(CAT) test/dsprout/win32/dsprout.dsp | . scripts/distify_vcpp_dsp.sh ../.. > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/console/dsprot.dsp
 	cp test/dsprout/*.cpp $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/console
 	cp test/minicc/qt/*.cpp test/minicc/qt/*.h $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/minicc/qt
-	cat test/minicc/qt/win32/miniccqt.dsp | . scripts/distify_vcpp_dsp.sh ../../.. > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/minicc/qt/miniccqt.dsp
+	$(CAT) test/minicc/qt/win32/miniccqt.dsp | . scripts/distify_vcpp_dsp.sh ../../.. > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/test/minicc/qt/miniccqt.dsp
 	echo $(DIST_VERSION) > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/version.txt
-	cat CHANGES > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/changes.txt
-	cat COPYING > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/copying.txt
-	cat LGPL > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/lgpl.txt
+	$(CAT) CHANGES > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/changes.txt
+	$(CAT) COPYING > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/copying.txt
+	$(CAT) LGPL > $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/lgpl.txt
 	cd $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/..; zip -r `basename $@` `basename $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)`
 	mv $(LIBPCKGTMPDIR)/../`basename $@` $(LIBPCKGDIR)