1997 Ford Escort I have a hole in my catalytic converter.

I have a hole in my catalytic converter. I have been having shifting issues recently. In the first two gears, the whole car kinda jumps. But the car only has shifting problems shifting out of N and into first, and than from first to second. (It is an automatic.)
But before the car has issues shifting, which is only when its cold, and only about half the time when its cold, other wise its fine, I can tell when its coming because the pedal, the gas pedal, is harder to push. You can feel the hesitation in the gas pedal before you feel the car shift. And its not just a little shift. And I'm not pushing the RPM's high or anything. Generally they are around 2.5 or 2. Depending on what the speed I need to get up to is. The car has always idled high, wheither its normal or not I dont know, but it idles around 1.5.
So my question is, do you think that the catalytic converter could cause this problem? Or is my transmission just going out? I have checked my tranny fluid, and just recently changed the fluid and the filter (As in less than 500 miles ago).
This is an 1997 Ford Escort wagon, with 187,000 miles, and the 1.9 liter engine. Thank you for considering my question. I know its confusing.