卡托瓦1884年以异常优异的成绩毕业于莫斯科大学数学专业。在毕业之前,卡托瓦随父经商,但很快就成为了一个职业音乐家。正是在这个时期,他开始接受克林德沃斯的学生V·I·威尔伯格(V. I. Willborg)的音乐指导,课程包括钢琴和基本和声理论。通过这些学习卡托瓦写出第一部钢琴奏鸣曲、一些性格小品以及改编曲。这些改编曲中最著名的应当是根据哲根森(Jurgenson)在柴可夫斯基推荐曲目中出版的《第一管弦乐组曲》的《序曲和赋格》改编的钢琴独奏曲。
Op. 1 no. 4 Lied for voice and piano on Lermontov's "Нет, не тебя так пылко я люблю..."
Op. 2 Trois Morceaux for piano: 1. Chant intime, E major 2. Loin du Foyer, E♭ major 3. Soiree d'Hiver D major
Op. 3 Caprice for piano G♭ major
Op. 5 "Rusalka" cantata for solo voice, women's chorus, orchestra
Op. 6 Six Morceaux for piano: 1. Rêverie, A major 2. Prélude, G♭ major, 3. Scherzo, B♭ major 4. Paysage, A major 5. Intermezzo, B♭ major 6. Contraste, B minor
Op. 7 Symphony
Op. 8 Vision (Etude) for piano
Op. 9 no. 1 Lied for voice and piano on Apukhtin's "Опять весна"
Op. 9 no. 4 Lied for voice and piano on Apukhtin's "Вечер"
Op. 10 Cinq Morceaux for piano: 1. Prelude 2. Prelude 3. Capriccioso 4. Reverie 5. Legende
Op. 11 no. 1 Lied for voice and piano on Lermontov's "Песнь Русалки"
Op. 11 no. 4 Lied for voice and piano on A. Tolstoy's "Не ветер, вея с высоты..."
Op. 12 Quatre Morceaux for piano: 1. Chant du soir 2. Meditation 3. Nocturne 4. Etude fantastique
Op. 14 Piano Trio in F minor
Op. 15 First sonata for violin and piano
Op. 16 Quintet in c minor for two violins, viola, and two violoncellos
Op. 17 Quatre Morceaux for piano
Op. 19 no. 1 Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Как над горячею золой..."
Op. 19 no. 2 Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Silentium! (Молчание!)"
Op. 20 Second sonata for violin and piano "Poem"
Op. 21 Piano Concerto
Op. 23 String quartet
Op. 24 Chants du Crepuscle for piano
Op. 26 Elegie for violin and piano
Op. 29 no. 3 Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Сей день, я помню..."
Op. 29 no. 6 Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Полдень"
Op. 30 Valse for piano
Op. 31 Piano Quartet in A minor
Op. 32 no. 4 Lied for voice and piano on K. Balmont's "Слова смолкали..."
Op. 33 Six poems by Vladimir Soloviev for voice and piano
Op. 34 Quatre Morceaux for piano: 1. Poeme 2. Poeme 3. Prelude 4. Etude
Op. 35 Tempete for piano
Op. 36 Etude for piano
Concert transcription of J.S. Bach's Passacaglia in C minor for piano