Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Cato Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	May 03, 2014
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--05-03
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	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	26,282,502
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	1,743,525