Cats' coach Adrian Dohnt confirmed the signing of Hay on Thursday, adding to the list of big names to join the HDFL in 2014.

Hay played 157 AFL games for Hawthorn and North Melbourne between 1997 and 2006 during a career in which he also battled bipolar depression for his last three years before retiring.

Hay - who played with Goulburn Valley Football League club Shepparton Bears this year - was named in the All-Australian team in 2001 when the Hawks made the preliminary final.

The 34-year-old trained with several of the Cats travelling players in Melbourne last year and after visiting the club recently, liked what he saw before officially joining on Wednesday night.

"He's a bit of an anywhere-man with where he can play, but centre half-back is where we might look to use him, which could then free up Daniel Lucas a bit more to go forward or play through the midfield," Dohnt said.

"So he'll give us some flexibility, and with some big forwards potentially getting around the competition next year, hopefully, he will hold us in good stead.

"His experience with what he will be able to teach our players and myself is going to be second-to-none."