The name of the Katzenturm is probably connected with the appointment of the Count of Katzenelnbogen as a noble citizen of the town of Oberwesel, who owned a farm near the tower. Since the Katzenturm was built in the third construction phase of the town wall, the construction period is in the first half of the 14th century. On the Rhine side, the city fortification of the northern suburb was secured by two round towers, the Katzenturm and the larger Ochsenturm. The Katzenturm was added to the city wall in the first half of the 14th century, so that on the Rhine side it protrudes in front of the wall. Originally, there was only a semicircular bulge in the wall at this place. This is the reason why the basement of the Katzenturm, facing the Rhine, is semicircular outside the wall. Facing the city, the tower was placed at the level of the battlements on the protruding corbels (protruding from the wall and supporting protrusion), so that the street running parallel to the city wall remained free. The walkway passed through the middle of the tower. Through a staircase inside, the guards reached a defensive platform from which they kept watch. On the upper floor, the round tower forms an octagon, on which a pointed conical roof was once placed. In order to protect the tower from bombarde fire (short-barrelled short-caliber cannons), a vault was added to the top floor. In the 1860s, the city council of Oberwesel sold some towers. For example, the Katzenturm was also sold to the French ambassador in Berlin (Count de Reiset) in 1862 for 26 thalers. In addition, he bought the area of the town wall adjoining 21.60 meters above as well as 10.80 meters below the tower. He rebuilt the tower to create living quarters, which are still in use today. On the southern side of the tower there is also a brick extension that forms a terrace. This continues until the breakthrough of the railroad embankment. In addition, a bay window supported by volute brackets (spiral ornamentation) with a cast-iron parapet was added in 1945. (Kira Bublies, University of Koblenz-Landau, 2016)