General - Notes to Financial Statements	3 Months Ended
May 02, 2015
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 May 2, 2015 and May 3, 2014 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 31, 2015. Amounts as of January 31, 2015 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 2015, the Company determined that it had improperly calculated a long-term deferred tax liability in prior periods due to the inclusion of certain insurance premium amounts related to its captive insurance company. The Company recorded an out of period adjustment during the three month period ended May 2, 2015 which resulted in a decrease in its long-term deferred tax liability by $1.2 million, decreased its Income tax expense by $1.0 million and increased its Accrued income taxes by $0.2 million. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended May 2, 2015 reflect the above amounts. The correction is not deemed material to prior period or current period consolidated financial statements. The Company has changed the classification of certain items in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform the May 3, 2014 presentation with our 2014 Form 10-K to show approximately $0.9 million of cash outflows related to the purchase and sale of other assets previously reported in operating activities as investing activities. On May 21, 2015, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.30 per share.

General - Notes to Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

May 02, 2015

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 May 2, 2015 and May 3, 2014 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 31, 2015. Amounts as of January 31, 2015 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 2015, the Company determined that it had improperly calculated a long-term deferred tax liability in prior periods due to the inclusion of certain insurance premium amounts related to its captive insurance company. The Company recorded an out of period adjustment during the three month period ended May 2, 2015 which resulted in a decrease in its long-term deferred tax liability by $1.2 million, decreased its Income tax expense by $1.0 million and increased its Accrued income taxes by $0.2 million. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended May 2, 2015 reflect the above amounts. The correction is not deemed material to prior period or current period consolidated financial statements.

The Company has changed the classification of certain items in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform the May 3, 2014 presentation with our 2014 Form 10-K to show approximately $0.9 million of cash outflows related to the purchase and sale of other assets previously reported in operating activities as investing activities.

On May 21, 2015, the Board of Directors maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.30 per share.