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Is the word gata the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No.

While the literal meaning (a female cat) is identical in both dialects, there is a significant difference in usage and connotation. In Brazil, "gata" is widely used as a slang term to describe an attractive woman or as a casual, flirtatious term of endearment (similar to "babe," "hottie," or "hey girl"). In Portugal, this usage is much less common; a Portuguese person would more naturally use "rapariga" (girl) or "miúda" (girl/youngster) to refer to a young woman.

Additionally, there is a major cultural pitfall: in Portugal, "rapariga" is a completely neutral word for a girl, but in Brazil, it is a highly offensive slur. Regarding pronunciation, while the word is spelled the same, Brazilians (especially in Rio or São Paulo) often pronounce the "t" as an affricate (sounding like "ch" in "cheese"), whereas in Portugal, the "t" remains a dental sound.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Aquela gata é muito bonita. (That girl/beauty is very beautiful.)
  2. E aí, gata, tudo bem? (Hey, babe, how are you?)
  3. Ela é uma gata de morrer. (She is a stunning beauty.)
  4. Minha gata está dormindo no sofá. (My female cat is sleeping on the sofa.)
  5. Você está uma gata nesse vestido! (You look gorgeous in that dress!)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Aquela rapariga é muito bonita. (That girl is very beautiful.)
  2. Olá, miúda, como estás? (Hello, girl, how are you?)
  3. Ela é uma rapariga deslumbrante. (She is a stunning girl.)
  4. A minha gata está a dormir no sofá. (My female cat is sleeping on the sofa.)
  5. Estás muito bonita com esse vestido! (You are very pretty in that dress!)