<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001454789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CATB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001843393</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Callori Fred</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 HIGH STREET, FLOOR 28</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series X Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1617</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3009.53</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1617000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30920</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund, LP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Upon stockholder approval of the conversion of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock, each share of Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converts into 1,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On February 1, 2021, Issuer completed its private placement pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 27, 2021 (the &quot;Private Placement&quot;). In connection with the Private Placement, a limited partnership (the &quot;Fund&quot;) in which the Reporting Person has an indirect pecuniary interest purchased shares of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Fund, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Benjamin Harshbarger as attorney-in-fact for Frederick P. Callori</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
