Since you live in Cali its gonna be tough to pass emissions without a cat. Id say "gut" meaning unbolt the bolts behind the cat pull the cat down drill out the "honey comb" inside start up your car and use the exhaust to push out the stuff inside the cat. Either that or go to a muffler shop that will hook up with with a straight back exhaust all the way to the stock muffler. Just a couple suggestions.