EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

I, John P. D. Cato, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Cato Corporation, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that on the date of this Certification:

1.	the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended April 29, 2006 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: June 6, 2006

/s/ John P. D. Cato  

John P. D. Cato 

Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer 

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