Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Dec. 07, 2011 Common Class A Member	Dec. 07, 2011 Common Class B Member
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CATO CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 29, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Statement Table [Table]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)		27,415,289	1,743,525
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3