I want to divide and conquer. My full grown cat palm has about 3 feet of straggly trunk and 5 feet top green healthy fronds. It looks unsightly in the front door garden. I would like to cut some of the sections off, dig out the base and replant. I could send a photo but I don't see where to upload. Will this work? I looked at several websites to no avail.

If I'm understanding you right.
You will kill it.
That's how they grow.

All you can do, is cut the bottom fronds off.