General - Notes to Financial Statements	3 Months Ended
Jul. 28, 2012
General Dsiclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Account Policies	NOTE 1 - GENERAL: The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of The Cato Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”), and all amounts shown as of and for the three and six month periods ended July 28, 2012 and July 30, 2011 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature unless otherwise noted. The results of the interim period may not be indicative of the results expected for the entire year. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012. Amounts as of January 28, 2012, have been derived from the audited balance sheet, but do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. On August 23, 2012, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.25 per share.

General - Notes to Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

Jul. 28, 2012

NOTE 1 - GENERAL:

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of The Cato Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”), and all amounts shown as of and for the three and six month periods ended July 28, 2012 and July 30, 2011 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature unless otherwise noted. The results of the interim period may not be indicative of the results expected for the entire year.

The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012. Amounts as of January 28, 2012, have been derived from the audited balance sheet, but do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

On August 23, 2012, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.25 per share.