Document and Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Cato Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 28, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-28
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Public Float	$ 799,367,189
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	27,534,595
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	1,743,525