[en] Highlights: • Potential energy curves of CdCl were computed with MRCI + Q method. • Spin-orbit coupling effect was taken into accounted in the calculations. • Spectroscopic constants of 9 Λ-S and 4 lowest Ω bound states were evaluated. • Radiative lifetimes of vibrational levels ν′ = 0–5 of bound states were predicted. • Feasibility and challenges of laser cooling of CdCl were discussed. Adiabatic potential energy curves (PECs) and the dipole moments (DMs) for the 14 low-lying Λ-S states of CdCl were computed at configuration interaction method including Davidson correction (+Q). To quantitatively evaluate the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect, the SOC integrals involving the X²Σ⁺ and 2²Σ⁺ were investigated. The spectroscopic constants of 9 bound Λ-S states and 4 lowest bound Ω states were derived. Moreover, the radiative lifetimes of the vibrational levels of bound states were predicted for the first time. Finally, the feasibility and challenges of laser cooling of CdCl were discussed based on a three-laser cooling scheme.