I cannot see Catalan possessing separatist elements in a world where Occitan is uprooted in Catalonia. In other words, my point is, Occitan has a level of commonality with Catalan as part of the same branch and likewise informing each other’s protection. Occitan being decimated brings harm to Catalan. Likewise, protecting Occitan, protects Catalan. This is the understanding in Spain today, regarding their relation.
Hence, if Occitan is lost completely by French centralism, so too is Catalan at least harmed. We will not see for instance the status of: Catalan spoken in day-to-day relation as the primary tongue in Barcelona if Occitan is made extinct throughout the empire.