Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Cato Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Feb. 02, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
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	CY
Entity Public Float	$ 799,367,185
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	27,543,376
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	1,743,525