Disclaimer: I have never done this and don't intend to.

This is going to be very unpopular but:

Men who cat-call are only following their natural inclinations. When a man sees an attractive woman on the street, it's sometimes normal for him to want to compliment or say something to her. Most of the time men suppress this urge out of a desire to be polite, but it shouldn't be obligatory to do so. If it's in a public space, the man has the right to say what he wants. Most of the time, cat-calling is a form of compliment or appreciation. Not all women dislike it. And the man can't be responsible for the woman's feelings if she dislikes it.

Normally in society we don't judge people for following normal, natural inclinations if they're not hurting anyone else. Saying that women have no control of this at all is disingenuous too. Cat-calling tends to pick up in the summer, when women are wearing more revealing clothing. Usually in the summer women's clothing is more revealing than men's. Why? Revealing clothing excites natural and normal urges and desires in men and it's only natural and normal for a man to express it from time to time. Even if he manages to suppress it constantly, he will only get resentful at doing so, even if unconsciously and against his best intentions. It will come out later in some way in the form of misogyny or sexism in another context.

Women should also take more responsibility for their own feelings. Most cat-calls are verbal compliments and are over quickly. They're not intended as insults. It's not like someone found a really deep vulnerable part of you and twisted the knife with an accurate, well-aimed put down. It's not even personal at all. All it means is that a guy found you attractive. If you've done nothing wrong, there's no reason to feel bad. Also, the notion that the guy is somehow going to attack you is overblown. If you really feel endangered, then carry a weapon, even if it's not technically legal. But the paranoia level to actual danger ratio is way overblown, especially on public streets during daylight. Sometimes women say that if they get cat-called it ruins their whole morning/evening/day and I find this just absurd. You let the opinion of one random stranger whose opinion has zero value, and talked to you for maybe one or two minutes do this? That is just weak. YOU let that happen.

So in conclusion, I just don't see why this is so bad. Can someone CMV?

Edit: Alright, my view has been sufficiently changed. It appears that this matter is essentially cultural. If one approaches it from the side of men taking responsibility for their urges vs. women taking responsibility for their dress/reactions then it's a completely subjective question with no moorings where any objectivity can be established. Since women attract the lust of men simply by being themselves, it appears that only men can really take responsibility for channeling our desires respectfully.

Thank you to those who participated and feel free to continue to discuss this matter.