diff --git a/src/klib/describe.py b/src/klib/describe.py
index 5b1560f..8d95d6b 100644
--- a/src/klib/describe.py
+++ b/src/klib/describe.py
@@ -92,15 +92,16 @@ def cat_plot(
         lim_top, lim_bot = top, bottom
 
         if n_unique < top + bottom:
-            lim_top = int(n_unique // 2)
-            lim_bot = int(n_unique // 2) + 1
-
-        if n_unique <= 2:
-            lim_top = lim_bot = int(n_unique // 2)
-
+            if bottom > top:
+                lim_top = int(n_unique // 2) if int(n_unique // 2) < top else top
+                lim_bot = n_unique - lim_top
+            else:
+                lim_bot = int(n_unique // 2) if int(n_unique // 2) < bottom else bottom
+                lim_top = n_unique - lim_bot
+    
         value_counts_top = value_counts[:lim_top]
         value_counts_idx_top = value_counts_top.index.tolist()
-        value_counts_bot = value_counts[-lim_bot:]
+        value_counts_bot = value_counts[-lim_bot:] if lim_bot > 0 else pd.DataFrame()
         value_counts_idx_bot = value_counts_bot.index.tolist()
 
         if top == 0: