$echo = '<ul>' . "\n";
$childcats = get_categories('child_of=' . $cat . '&hide_empty=1');
foreach ($childcats as $childcat) {
    if (1 == $childcat->category_parent) {
        $echo .= "\t" . '<li><a href="' . get_category_link($childcat->cat_ID).'" title="' . $childcat->category_description . '">';
        $echo .= $childcat->cat_name . '</a>';
        $echo .= '</li>' . "\n";
    }
}
$echo .= '</ul>' . "\n";
echo $echo;