-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GD3klfGnwbSTWzDR+lvBlLofku7pXEbg2lU48bAtBOXO7dlp7XAPCzOG3EdZnHsn
 kFNUp9ur1F/emfkedi9aLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001212960-03-000031.txt : 20030929
<SEC-HEADER>0001212960-03-000031.hdr.sgml : 20030929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030929174511
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001212960-03-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030926
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030929

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANDLER ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035412

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31340
		FILM NUMBER:		03915909

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10500 KILMORY TERRACE
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045517540

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>san54.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-26</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035412</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SANDLER ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 34216</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>282344216</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>SR. VICE PRES - CONTROLLER</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>CLASS A COMMON STOCK</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-26</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>1500</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>20.4400</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>12.28</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2000-11-01</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2009-11-01</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>CLASS A COMMON STOCK</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>4000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>4000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">This option will vest in 5 equal annual increments beginning 11/01/2000.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: STUART L. USELTON</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
