[Steven Zahm]

@ Joshua

The get_cat_ID() is a core WP function to retrieve one of its category ID by name. You need to use the Connections equivalent found in the class.terms.php file.

$category_object = cnTerm::getBy( 'name', $category_name, 'category' );
var_dump( $category_object );
$category_id = $category_object->term_id;
var_dump( $category_id );

Hope that helps!