Born at Southend and apprenticed to Mr Porter, of Bishopgate Street, London, EC, afterwards completing his medical education at the London Hospital, where he gained prizes in medicine. He settled in practice in the City Road, until ill health forced him to take a sea voyage. On his return he became Resident Medical Officer at the Holloway and North London Dispensary, and after that started a dental practice in Islington, and took the LDS in 1860. He was one of the founders of the Odontological Society, of which he was afterwards President, and it was mainly owing to his untiring exertions that legal difficulties were overcome. He also helped to improve the Royal Benevolent College and to place it on a satisfactory footing. (See "Opinion of Roundell Palmer, Esq., with the case submitted to him concerning the recent alterations at the Royal Medical Benevolent College, and a preliminary statement by W. A. N. Cattlin", 8vo, London, 1857.) Cattlin removed to 110 King's Road, Brighton, in 1863, where he continued a successful dental practice until 1880, when his health again broke down. He suffered from paralysis, and died at Bournemouth on November 13th, 1886, leaving a wife and family. His son, Mr William Cattlin, continued his practice as a dental surgeon in Islington.