General - Notes to Financial Statements	9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2016
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 periods ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement 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 30, 2016. Amounts as of January 30, 2016 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. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company determined that there was an error in the classification of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions as current liabilities in Accrued income taxes that resulted in a revision to the prior year end balance sheet as of January 30, 2016. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 30, 2016 has been revised to correct the presentation of the amounts, which resulted in a decrease to Accrued income taxes and a corresponding increase to Other noncurrent liabilities of $13.6 million, which primarily consists of deferred rent and deferred compensation liabilities. There was no impact to the statement of income and comprehensive income and no impact to total net cash provided by operating activities or used in investing and financing activities in the statement of cash flows. The Company concluded that the revision was immaterial to prior period financial statements. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company changed its estimate for recognizing gift card breakage income. The Company changed the dormancy period to 24 months of inactivity from 60 months of inactivity to more closely align with recent Company experience, industry practice and tax treatment. As a result, the Company recognized $2.4 million of additional breakage income (recorded in Interest and other income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) for gift cards that were dormant from January 30, 2011 through February 1, 2014. On November 17, 2016, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.33 per share and increased, by 2 million shares, the authorization to purchase shares under its share repurchase program.

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 periods ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement 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 30, 2016. Amounts as of January 30, 2016 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.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company determined that there was an error in the classification of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions as current liabilities in Accrued income taxes that resulted in a revision to the prior year end balance sheet as of January 30, 2016. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 30, 2016 has been revised to correct the presentation of the amounts, which resulted in a decrease to Accrued income taxes and a corresponding increase to Other noncurrent liabilities of $13.6 million, which primarily consists of deferred rent and deferred compensation liabilities. There was no impact to the statement of income and comprehensive income and no impact to total net cash provided by operating activities or used in investing and financing activities in the statement of cash flows. The Company concluded that the revision was immaterial to prior period financial statements.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company changed its estimate for recognizing gift card breakage income. The Company changed the dormancy period to 24 months of inactivity from 60 months of inactivity to more closely align with recent Company experience, industry practice and tax treatment. As a result, the Company recognized $2.4 million of additional breakage income (recorded in Interest and other income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) for gift cards that were dormant from January 30, 2011 through February 1, 2014.

On November 17, 2016, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.33 per share and increased, by 2 million shares, the authorization to purchase shares under its share repurchase program.