-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JgokC2zjs9MCRU4N7tk9mMDsPbR/YsQoszAxdeI6WZF+/9toOoE3NiDwY5+e0/Jm
 TTslXLjtBrfgUr5CCwy3hw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001212938-07-000006.txt : 20070329
<SEC-HEADER>0001212938-07-000006.hdr.sgml : 20070329
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070329163704
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001212938-07-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070329
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070329
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070329

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

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:		07728047

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10500 KILMORY TERRACE
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045517540
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>san227.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-29</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>2007-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2431</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2431.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted shares that were subject to a performance measurement.  The grant was effective 5/1/2006 but carried a risk of forfeiture unless the performance measurement was met.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors certified the performance measurement was met on March 29, 2007.  The shares remain subject to a time-based vesting schedule.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: BRIAN S. MCALPINE, POWER OF ATTORNEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
