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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001291804</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>George Jean</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 BOYLSTON STREET SUITE 1380</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>304309</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11094</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11094</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Series A and Series B Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock on a 1-for-12.85 basis upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering without payment of consideration.  The Series A and B Preferred Stock were convertible at any time at the holder's election and automatically upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering. The shares had no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are held directly by Advanced Technology Ventures VIII, L.P. (&quot;ATV VIII&quot;). ATV Associates VIII, LLC (&quot;ATV A VIII&quot;) is the General Partner of ATV VIII and exercises voting and dispositive authority over the shares held by ATV VIII. Voting and dispositive decisions of ATV A VIII are made collectively by Michael A. Carusi, Ms. George, Steven N. Baloff, Robert C. Hower and William C. Wiberg (collectively, the &quot;ATV VIII Managing Directors&quot;). Ms. George disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by ATV VIII except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are owned directly by Lightstone Ventures, L.P. (&quot;LSV&quot;). LSV Associates, LLC (&quot;LSV GP&quot;) is the General Partner of Lightstone Ventures, L.P. and exercises voting and dispositive authority over the shares held by LSV. Voting and dispositive decisions of LSV GP are made collectively by Michael A. Carusi, Jean George, Ralph E. Christoffersen and Henry A. Plain, Jr. Ms. George disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are owned directly by Lightstone Ventures (A), L.P. (&quot;LSV(A)&quot;). LSV GP is the General Partner of LSV(A) and exercises voting and dispositive authority over the shares held by LSV(A). Voting and dispositive decisions of LSV GP are made collectively by Michael A. Carusi, Jean George, Ralph E. Christoffersen and Henry A. Plain, Jr. Ms. George disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option was granted on June 30, 2015 and vests over three years, with one-third of the shares vesting on each anniversary of the grant date until the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jean George</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
