Supplemental Cash Flow Information - (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Supplemental Cash Flow Information Abstract Cato [Abstract]
Income Taxes Paid, Net	$ 18,171,000	$ 25,470,000

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration