Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020 shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Security 12b Title	Class A - Common Stock, par value $.033 per share
Trading Symbol	CATO
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity File Number	1-31340
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity TaxIdentification Number	56-0484485
Entity Address Address Line 1	8100 Denmark Road
Entity Address City Or Town	Charlotte
Entity Address State Or Province	NC
Entity Address Postal Zip Code	28273-5975
City Area Code	(704)
Local Phone Number	554-8510
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Registrant Name	THE CATO CORP
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding	21,170,417
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding	1,763,652