smoke or flames from fire, to roast
猲 centers on fire-related actions: smoke or flames rising from a fire, and roasting something over that fire. The meanings are closely linked to the idea of applying heat.
猲 combines the animal radical 犭 with 曷, which likely provides the sound. The exact historical development of the meaning 'smoke or flames from fire; to roast' is uncertain, and the connection to the animal radical is not obvious.
The animal radical 犭 suggests a beast, and 曷 looks like a container over fire. Imagine roasting a wild animal over an open flame, with smoke and flames rising.
For カツ, picture a cut of meat sizzling over the fire: cut -> カツ, and the roasting makes smoke rise.