Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2021	Aug. 01, 2020
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	The Cato Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000018255
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 30, 2021
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Public Float		$ 234,143,784
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Security12bTitle	Class A - Common Stock, par value $.033 per share
Trading Symbol	CATO
Entity File Number	1-31340
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-0484485
Document Annual Report	true
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 Transition Report	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Common Class A [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	20,839,795
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)	1,763,652