I have a PhD in mathematics in a field that uses quite a few category theoretic notions, so I've had extensive hardcore contact with the theory. After my PhD I converted to being a developer, and have by now quite a bit of experience doing that.

I have not once found category theory useful, beyond the absolute basics of the idea of a universal property, either in my work as a mathematician or as a developer, despite going on many expeditions to find some use for it.

I'm not saying category theory is not useful. I'm just saying you might do just fine without it.

Also, in an attempt to maybe say something useful, "Categories for the working mathematician" by MacLane is a good introduction if you know some maths already.

As a more practical point, trying to learn category theory without a good understanding of abstract algebra and linear algebra would be difficult. The material would seem very unmotivated and unintuitive. Math undergrads don’t typically encounter the subject except in an upper level topics course; more usually it’s a grad-level math course which requires a lot of exposure to abstract algebra.