-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-048846.txt : 20041026
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-048846.hdr.sgml : 20041026
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041026152839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-048846
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20020108
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041026
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041026

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CATO WAYLAND H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001167363

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31340
		FILM NUMBER:		041096605

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 DENMARK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28273

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 DENMARK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28273

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CATO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018255
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				560484485
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 DENMARK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28273-5975
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045548510

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 DENMARK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28273-5975

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CATO STORES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19701002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd54815.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2002-01-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001167363</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CATO WAYLAND H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13777 BALLANTYNE CORPORATE PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28277</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Remarks below.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STARS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Cato Family Investments Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">STARS is an acronym for a secured forward sale transaction designated as a Special Term Appreciation Retention Sale.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On 1/8/2002, the Cato Family Investments Limited Partnership, pursuant to STARS agreements with a bank counterparty, agreed to sell 200,000 shares of class A common stock of The Cato Corporation (the &quot;Shares&quot;) at approximately 76% of a floor price of $18.1968 ($2,754,996) which the Partnership received on 1/11/2002. The Partnership agreed to deliver the Shares in increments to the counterparty over ten business days in Feb. 2005 (the &quot;Settlement Dates&quot;). The Partnership pledged the Shares to secure its obligations to the counterparty. On the Settlement Dates, the Partnership will have the option of (a) paying cash to the counterparty and reclaiming the pledged Shares, (b) delivering all the pledged Shares to the counterparty or (c) if the market price of the Shares exceeds the floor price, settling with most of the pledged Shares and reclaiming some of the pledged Shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This is a filing to report a possible derivative security acquired by the Cato Family Investments Limited Partnership. At that time the reporting person was a director and more than 10% owner of the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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