How often is Kat/Cat used as a nickname for names like Katherine, Kateline, Kathleen?

Personally I think Kathy and Kate are far more common than Kat as nicknames, but I like Kat way better than Kathy or Kate because of the sound of the abbreviation reminds me of the animal "cat" and hence expresses imagery of a female who stands up for herself firmly, but also can be intelligent and clever and independent like a cat.