2001 boxer cat?

[fisherman]

Hi all,

I have a 2001 2.5d boxer can someone clear up a heated debate.
I had the cat replaced due to blockage, then had a problem with middle box (wrong one my fault) disconnected new cat and connected it to the front pipe just to run it for the weekend to get to work a mate said it cant have been a cat replaced first time because the van would not of run at all with it not in the "system" I have a recipt from the garage for the cat £180 worth and when it was replaced the old one looked just like a cat internally honeycomb etc.

Can someone clear this debate up.
P.s the van ran fine all weekend minus the cat.