<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018255-12-000025.txt : 20120608
<SEC-HEADER>0000018255-12-000025.hdr.sgml : 20120608
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120608133034
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018255-12-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	10-Q/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		5
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120608
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120608
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120608

FILER:

	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:			0203

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		10-Q/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31340
		FILM NUMBER:		12897251

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 DENMARK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28273-5975
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045517352

	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>10-Q/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>cato10qa1qtr12.htm
<DESCRIPTION>10-Q/A
<TEXT>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>





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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">UNITED STATES&#160;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">FORM 10-Q/A</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:14.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Amendment No. 1</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" lang=EN-US style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<div align=center>

<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:583.200012pt;">
 <tr style="height:16.65pt;">
  <td valign=top width=8% style="height:16.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">[X]</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="height:16.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=88% style="height:16.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">QUARTERLY REPORT
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">For the quarterly period
  ended April 28, 2012</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">OR</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:5.35pt;">
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="height:5.35pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=8% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">[  ]</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=88% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">TRANSITION REPORT
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">For
  the transition period from ________________to__________________</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=3 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Commission
  file number </font><u><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">               1-31340                        &nbsp;</font></u></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=center>

<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:346.099976pt;">
 <tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Exact name of registrant as
  specified in its charter)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=59% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Delaware</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=41% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">56-0484485</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=59% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(State
  or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=41% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification
  No.)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">8100 Denmark Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975</font><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">  &nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Address of principal executive
  offices)</font></p>
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(704) 554-8510</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Registrant's telephone number,
  including area code)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Not Applicable</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td colspan=2 valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Former name, former address
  and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-top:0in;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
(1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:180.250015pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=23% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Yes</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=30% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">X</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=18% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">No</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-top:0in;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any,
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:180.250015pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=23% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Yes</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=30% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">X</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=18% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">No</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.&#160;
See definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller
reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.&#160; (Check one):</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Large accelerated filer&#160; </font><font face=Wingdings lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&#254;&nbsp;</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160; Accelerated filer &#160;</font><font face=Wingdings lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#168;&nbsp;</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Non-accelerated filer&#160; </font><font face=Wingdings lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#168;&nbsp;</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Smaller reporting company </font><font face=Wingdings lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#168;&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:7.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:7.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-top:0in;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is
a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:180.250015pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=23% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Yes</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=30% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=18% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">No</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">X</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">As
of June 6, 2012, there were 27,534,595 shares of Class&nbsp;A common stock and
1,743,525 shares of Class&nbsp;B common stock outstanding.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font face="CG Times \(W1\)" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">The
Cato Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) is filing this Amendment No.&nbsp;1 (this
&#8220;Amendment&#8221;) to its Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the period ended
April 28, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6,
2012 (the &#8220;Original Report&#8221;), solely for the purposes of (i)&nbsp;correcting
the inadvertent omission of certain information in the following sentence on
the cover page of the Original Report: &#8220;</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">As
of June 6, 2012, there were 27,534,595 shares of Class&nbsp;A common stock and
1,743,525 shares of Class&nbsp;B common stock outstanding&#8221;;</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;"> and (ii)
correcting inadvertent errors that resulted in the substitution of various
software codes for various data items intended to be included in the subsection
titled &#8220;Results of Operations&#8212;Comparison of First Quarter of 2012 with 2011&#8221; in
Part I, Item 2, &#8220;Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations,&#8221; in the Original Report.&nbsp; These errors did not
affect the Company&#8217;s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or
other Items included in the Original Report.&#160; This Amendment amends and
restates in their entirety the cover page and Item 2 of Part&nbsp;I of the
Original Report.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">No
other amendments, modifications, updates or changes are being made to the
Original Report other than as described above.&nbsp; This Amendment speaks as
of the date of the filing of the Original Report.&nbsp; The Company has not
taken into account any other events occurring after the filing of the Original
Report which might have affected any disclosures in the Original Report, nor
has the Company amended, modified, updated or otherwise changed any disclosures
to reflect any subsequent events.</font></p>









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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT&#8217;S
  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS</font></b></p>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The following information should be
read along with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,
including the accompanying Notes appearing in this report. Any of the following
are &#8220;forward-looking&#8221; statements within the meaning of Section&nbsp;27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section&nbsp;21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: (1)&nbsp;statements in this Form&nbsp;10-Q
that reflect projections or expectations of our future financial or economic
performance; (2)&nbsp;statements that are not historical information;
(3)&nbsp;statements of our beliefs, intentions, plans and objectives for future
operations, including those contained in &#8220;Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations&#8221;; (4)&nbsp;statements relating
to our operations or activities for fiscal 2012 and beyond, including, but not
limited to, statements regarding expected amounts of capital expenditures and
store openings (including the launch of the new Versona Accessories store
concept), relocations, remodels and closures; and (5)&nbsp;statements relating
to our future contingencies. When possible, we have attempted to identify
forward-looking statements by using words such as &#8220;expects,&#8221; &#8220;anticipates,&#8221;
&#8220;approximates,&#8221; &#8220;believes,&#8221; &#8220;estimates,&#8221; &#8220;hopes,&#8221; &#8220;intends,&#8221; &#8220;may,&#8221; &#8220;plans,&#8221;
&#8220;should&#8221; and variations of such words and similar expressions. We can give no
assurance that actual results or events will not differ materially from those
expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements included in this report are based on information available to us as
of the filing date of this report, but subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.&#160; Such
factors include, but are not limited to, the following:&#160; general economic
conditions, including, but not limited to, the continuation or worsening of (i)
the current adverse or recessionary conditions affecting the U.S. and global
economies and consumer spending and (ii) the adverse conditions in the U.S. and
global credit markets and sovereign debt markets; uncertainties regarding the
impact of any governmental responses to the foregoing adverse conditions;
competitive factors and pricing pressures; our ability to predict fashion
trends; consumer apparel and accessory buying patterns; adverse weather
conditions; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand; and other factors
discussed under &#8220;Risk Factors&#8221; in Part I, Item 1A of our annual report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (&#8220;fiscal 2011&#8221;), as amended or
supplemented, and in other reports we file with or furnish to the Securities
and Exchange Commission (&#8220;SEC&#8221;) from time to time.&#160; We do not undertake, and
expressly decline, any obligation to update any such forward-looking
information contained in this report, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.</font></p>









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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES:</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The Company&#8217;s accounting
policies are more fully described in Note&nbsp;1 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements included in the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended January 28, 2012. As disclosed in Note&nbsp;1 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements, the preparation of the Company&#8217;s financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (&#8220;GAAP&#8221;) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future
events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with
absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the
exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those
estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.
The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the
Company&#8217;s financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts
receivable, reserves related to self-insurance health insurance, workers&#8217;
compensation, general and auto insurance liabilities, litigation, calculation
of potential asset impairment, inventory shrinkage and uncertain tax positions.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The Company&#8217;s critical
accounting policies and estimates are discussed with the Audit Committee.</font></p>





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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

  </td>
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  <td valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">

  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;line-height:.7pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The following table sets
forth, for the periods indicated, certain items in the Company's unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of total retail
sales:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=4 valign=bottom width=40% style="background:white;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Three
  Months Ended</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=bottom width=16% style="background:white;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">April
  28, 2012</font></b></p>
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 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;border-top:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
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  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=bottom width=16% style="background:white;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">April
  30, 2011</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Total retail sales</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">100.0</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;border-top:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">%</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">100.0</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;border-top:solid black 1.0pt;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">%</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Other income</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">0.9</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">1.0</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Total revenues</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">100.9</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">101.0</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Cost of goods sold</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">57.9</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">58.5</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Selling, general and administrative</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">22.5</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">23.4</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Depreciation</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">2.1</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">2.0</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Interest and other income</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(0.3)</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(0.4)</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Income before income taxes</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">18.8</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">17.5</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:12.75pt;">
  <td valign=bottom width=57% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Net income</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">11.6</font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></b></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=11% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=13% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">11.3</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=bottom width=3% style="background:white;height:12.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font color=black face=Arial style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> </font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>





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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2;">
  <td valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">

  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:.7pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">RESULTS OF OPERATIONS &#8211;
(CONTINUED):</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Comparison of First
Quarter of 2012 with 2011</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Total
retail sales for the first quarter were $272.8 million compared to last year&#8217;s first
quarter sales of $270.9 million, a 0.7% increase.&#160; Same-store sales decreased
2.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 due to the continuing difficult
economic environment. &#160;Total revenues, comprised of retail sales and other
income (principally, finance charges and late fees on customer accounts
receivable and layaway fees), were $275.3 million for the first quarter ended April
28, 2012, compared to $273.7 million for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011.
The Company operated 1,293 stores at April 28, 2012 compared to 1,282 stores at
the end of last year&#8217;s first quarter.&#160; For the first three months of fiscal
2012 the Company opened eight new stores, relocated two stores and closed three
stores.&#160; The Company currently expects to open approximately 40 stores, relocate
15 stores and close approximately 11 stores in fiscal 2012.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Credit
revenue of $1.8 million represented 0.7% of total revenues in the first quarter
of fiscal 2012, compared to 2011 credit revenue of $2.0 million or 0.7% of
total revenues.&#160; Credit revenue decreased for the most recent comparable period
due to lower finance charge income and lower late fee income from sales under
the Company&#8217;s proprietary credit card. Credit revenue is comprised of interest
earned on the Company&#8217;s private label credit card portfolio and related fee
income.&#160; Related expenses include principally bad debt expense, payroll,
postage and other administrative expenses and totaled $1.2 million in the first
quarter of 2012, compared to last year&#8217;s first quarter expenses of $1.3 million.&#160;
The decrease was primarily due to lower bad debt and payroll expenses compared
to the first quarter of 2011.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Other
income in total, as included in total revenues, was $2.6 million for the first
quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $2.7 million for the prior year&#8217;s comparable
first quarter. The slight overall decrease resulted primarily from lower
finance, late fee and layaway charges.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Cost
of goods sold was $157.8 million, or 57.9% of retail sales for the first quarter
of fiscal 2012, compared to $158.4 million, or 58.5% of retail sales in the
first quarter of fiscal 2011.&#160; The overall decrease in cost of goods sold as a
percent of retail sales for the first quarter of 2012 resulted primarily from lower
freight costs and an increase in vendor allowances.&#160; Cost of goods sold
includes merchandise costs (net of discounts and allowances), buying costs,
distribution costs, occupancy costs, freight and inventory shrinkage.&#160; Net
merchandise costs and in-bound freight are capitalized as inventory costs.&#160;
Buying and distribution costs include payroll, payroll-related costs and
operating expenses for the buying departments and distribution center.&#160;
Occupancy expenses include rent, real estate taxes, insurance, common area
maintenance, utilities and maintenance for stores and distribution facilities.&#160;
Total gross margin dollars (retail sales less cost of goods sold exclusive of
depreciation) increased by 2.2% to $115.0 million for the first quarter of
fiscal 2012 compared to $112.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.&#160; Gross
margin as presented may not be comparable to those of other entities.</font></p>





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<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:191;width:0px;">
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

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</DIV>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:.7pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">RESULTS OF OPERATIONS &#8211;
(CONTINUED):</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face=Courier lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Selling, general and
administrative expenses (&#8220;SG&amp;A&#8221;) primarily include corporate and store
payroll, related payroll taxes and benefits, insurance, supplies, advertising,
bank and credit card processing fees and bad debts.&#160; SG&amp;A expenses were
$61.4 million, or 22.5% of retail sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012,
compared to $63.3 million, or 23.4% of retail sales in the first quarter of
fiscal 2011.&#160; SG&amp;A expenses as a percentage of retail sales decreased 90
basis points for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior
year. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower incentive-based
compensation expenses, partially offset by higher group health insurance costs.
</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Depreciation expense was
$5.8 million, or 2.1% of retail sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012,
compared to $5.4 million, or 2.0% of retail sales for the first quarter of
fiscal 2011.&#160; The slight increase in depreciation expense was due to store
development and information technology investments.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Interest
and other income was $0.9 million, or 0.3% of retail sales for the first
quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $1.0 million, or 0.4% of retail sales for
the first quarter of fiscal 2011.&#160; The slight decrease was due to higher sales
tax vendor income, as well as, label income in the first fiscal quarter of 2011.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">Income tax expense was $19.6 million or 7.2% of
retail sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $17.0 million,
or 6.3% of retail sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The first quarter
increase resulted from higher pre-tax income and a higher effective tax rate.&#160; The
effective income tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was 38.2%
compared to 35.7% for the first quarter of 2011.&#160; The current year quarter was
impacted by the elimination of the benefit of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
which has not been renewed for 2012 by Congress as of April 28, 2012.&#160; </font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL
RESOURCES AND MARKET RISK: </font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="CG Times" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The Company has
consistently maintained a strong liquidity position. Cash provided by operating
activities during the first three months of fiscal 2012 was $58.0 million as
compared to $43.0 million in the first three months of fiscal 2011. These
amounts enable the Company to fund its regular operating needs, capital
expenditure program, cash dividend payments, and share repurchases.&#160; In
addition, the Company maintains a $35.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility
for short-term financing of seasonal cash needs. There were no outstanding
borrowings on this facility at April 28, 2012.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Cash provided by operating
activities for the first three months of fiscal 2012 was primarily generated by
earnings adjusted for depreciation and changes in working capital. The increase
of $15.0 million for the first three months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the
first three months of fiscal 2011 was primarily due to an increase in net
income, a reduction in inventories partially offset by a decrease in accounts
payable and accrued expenses.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The Company believes that
its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, together with cash flows
from operations and borrowings available under its revolving credit agreement
will be adequate to fund the Company&#8217;s regular operating requirements, expected
capital expenditures, dividends and share repurchases for fiscal 2012 and for
the foreseeable future.</font></p>





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<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:191;width:0px;">
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

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</DIV>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;line-height:.7pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL
RESOURCES AND MARKET RISK (CONTINUED):</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">At April 28, 2012, the
Company had working capital of $296.1 million compared to $275.8 million at April
30, 2011.&#160; Additionally, the Company had $1.5 million invested in privately
managed investment funds and other miscellaneous equities and a single auction
rate security of $3.5 million at April 28, 2012, which are included in Other assets
on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">At April 28, 2012 and January 28, 2012, the
Company had an unsecured revolving credit agreement, which provides for
borrowings of up to $35.0 million.&#160; The revolving credit agreement is committed
until August 2013. The credit agreement contains various financial covenants
and limitations, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios with
which the Company was in compliance as of April 28, 2012 and January 28, 2012.&#160;
There were no borrowings outstanding under the credit facility during the first
quarter ended April 28, 2012 and January 28, 2012.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">At April 28, 2012, January
28, 2012 and April 30, 2011, the Company had approximately $3.0 million, $2.3
million and $2.9 million, respectively, of outstanding irrevocable letters of
credit relating to purchase commitments.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Expenditures for property
and equipment totaled $9.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012,
compared to $4.4 million in last year&#8217;s first quarter.&#160; The expenditures for
the first three months of 2012 were primarily for the development of eight new
stores, additional investments in new technology and the general office
expansion.&#160; For the full fiscal 2012 year, the Company expects to invest
approximately $57.0 million for capital expenditures.&#160; This includes
expenditures to open 40 new stores and relocate 15 stores, upgrades to
merchandise systems and home office and distribution center expansion.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Net cash used in investing
activities totaled $15.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared
to $2.7 million used in the comparable period of 2011.&#160; The increase was due
primarily to the increase in purchases of short-term investments.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">On May 24, 2012, the Board
of Directors increased the quarterly dividend by 9% from $0.23 per share to
$0.25 per share.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">As
of April 28, 2012, the Company had 1,989,105 shares remaining in open
authorizations under its share repurchase program.&#160; </font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The
Company does not use derivative financial instruments.</font></p>





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<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:191;width:0px;">
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">THE CATO CORPORATION</font></b></font></b></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">MANAGEMENT&#8217;S

  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL</font></b></font></b></p>

  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)</font></b></font></b></p>

  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><font style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></font></b></p>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:.7pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><b><u><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL
RESOURCES AND MARKET RISK (CONTINUED):</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The Company&#8217;s investment
portfolio was primarily invested in tax exempt variable rate demand notes
(&#8220;VRDN&#8221;), corporate bonds, and governmental debt securities held in managed
funds with underlying ratings of A or better at both April 28, 2012 and January
28, 2012.&#160; The underlying securities have contractual maturities which
generally range from 35 days to 29 years.&#160; Although the Company&#8217;s investments
in VRDN&#8217;s have underlying securities with contractual maturities longer than
one year, the VRDN&#8217;s themselves have interest rate resets of 7 days and are
considered short-term investments.&#160; These securities are classified as
available-for-sale and are recorded as short-term investments on the
accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at estimated fair value,
with unrealized gains and losses reported net of taxes in accumulated other
comprehensive income.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Additionally, at April 28,
2012, the Company had $1.0 million of privately managed funds, $0.5 million of
corporate equities and a single auction rate security (&#8220;ARS&#8221;) of $3.5 million
which continues to fail its auction.&#160; At January 28, 2012, the Company had $1.6
million of privately managed funds, $0.4 million of corporate equities and a
single ARS of $3.5 million.&#160; See Note 8 &#8211; Fair Value Measurements for further
information regarding the failed ARS.&#160; All of these assets are recorded within
Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">Information regarding new accounting
pronouncements is provided in Note 9 to the Company&#8217;s Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements.</font></p>









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</DIV>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:423.899994pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Exhibit No.</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Item</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">   3.1*</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Registrant&#8217;s Restated Certificate of Incorporation
  dated March 6, 1987, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-8 of
  the Registrant filed February 7, 2000 (SEC File No. 333-96283).</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">   3.2*</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Registrant&#8217;s By Laws incorporated by reference to
  Exhibit 99.2 to Form <br>
  8-K of the Registrant Filed December 10, 2007.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">   4.1*</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Rights Agreement dated December 18, 2003, incorporated
  by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-A12G of the Registrant filed December
  22, 2003 and as amended in Form 8-A12B/A filed January 6, 2004.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> 31.1***</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal
  Executive Officer.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> 31.2***</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal
  Financial Officer.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> 32.1***</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive
  Officer.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;"> 32.2***</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial
  Officer.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr style="height:6.0pt;">
  <td valign=top width=14% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="height:6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=14% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">101.1**</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=83% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">The following materials from Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly
  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 28, 2012, formatted in
  XBRL:  (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive
  Income for the Three Months ended April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011;  (ii)
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 28, 2012; April 30, 2011 and
  January 28, 2012;  (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for
  the Three Months ended April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011; and (iv) Notes to
  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements tagged as blocks of text.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=center>

<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:478.649994pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-9.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">* *Previously
  incorporated by reference in our Original Report.</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">**Previously submitted as an
  exhibit to our Original Report.</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">***Submitted electronically
  herewith.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &nbsp;</font></p>









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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-top:0in;page-break-after:avoid;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;">Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment
No. 1 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; THE
CATO CORPORATION</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:483.299957pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=29% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">June 8, 2012</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=42% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">/s/ John P. D. Cato</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Date</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=42% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">John P. D. Cato</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chairman, President and</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=42% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">June 8, 2012</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=42% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">/s/ John R. Howe</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=29% style="border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Date</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=29% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=42% style="border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">John R. Howe</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Executive Vice President</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>








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<FILENAME>exhbit311.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 31.1
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<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">EXHIBIT
31.1</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">PRINCIPAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), AS ADOPTED</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">PURSUANT
TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;layout-grid-mode:line;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;layout-grid-mode:line;letter-spacing:0pt;">I, John P. D. Cato, certify that:</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:508.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">I have reviewed this report on Form&nbsp;10-Q
  of The Cato Corporation (the &#8220;registrant&#8221;);</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Based on my knowledge, this report does not
  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to <br>
  state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
  circumstances under which <br>
  such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered
  by this report;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Based on my knowledge, the financial
  statements, and other financial information included in this report, <br>
  fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
  operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
  presented in this report;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The registrant&#8217;s other certifying officer and
  I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
  procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules&nbsp;13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
  and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act
  Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant <br>
  and have:</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Designed such disclosure controls and
  procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures <br>
  to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
  relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
  known to us by others within those entities,<br>
  particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">b)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Designed such internal control over financial
  reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
  designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
  reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
  statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
  accounting principles;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">c)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Evaluated the effectiveness of the
  registrant&#8217;s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report
  our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
  procedures, as of the end <br>
  of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">d)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Disclosed in this report any change in the
  registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial reporting that <br>
  occurred during the registrant&#8217;s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant&#8217;s
  fourth fiscal quarter in the <br>
  case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
  likely to materially affect, the registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial
  reporting; and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:550.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=89% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The registrant&#8217;s other certifying officer and
  I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control
  over financial reporting, to the registrant&#8217;s auditors and the audit
  committee of the registrant&#8217;s board of directors (or persons performing the
  equivalent functions):</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 width=94% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=86% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">All significant deficiencies and material
  weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
  reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant&#8217;s
  ability to record, <br>
  process, summarize and report financial information; and</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=89% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">b)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=86% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
  management or other employees who have a <br>
  significant role in the registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial
  reporting.</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;page-break-after:auto;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: June 8, 2012</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:245.699982pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">/s/ John P. D. Cato</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John
  P. D. Cato</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chairman,
  President and</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief
  Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>




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<TYPE>EX-31
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit312.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 31.2
<TEXT>

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<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT 31.2</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 RULE
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), AS ADOPTED</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF
2002</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:char;">I,
John R. Howe, certify that:</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:508.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">I
  have reviewed this report on Form&nbsp;10-Q of The Cato Corporation (the
  &#8220;registrant&#8221;);</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Based
  on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
  material fact or omit to <br>
  state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
  under which <br>
  such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered
  by this report;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Based
  on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
  included in this report, <br>
  fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
  operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
  presented in this report;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
  registrant&#8217;s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing
  and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange
  Act Rules&nbsp;13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial
  reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the
  registrant <br>
  and have:</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Designed
  such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls
  and procedures <br>
  to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
  relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
  known to us by others within those entities, <br>
  particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">b)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Designed
  such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal
  control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
  provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
  and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
  accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">c)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Evaluated
  the effectiveness of the registrant&#8217;s disclosure controls and procedures and
  presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
  disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end <br>
  of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=96% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=4% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">d)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=92% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Disclosed
  in this report any change in the registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial
  reporting that <br>
  occurred during the registrant&#8217;s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant&#8217;s
  fourth fiscal quarter in the <br>
  case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
  likely to materially affect, the registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial
  reporting; and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:550.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=89% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
  registrant&#8217;s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most
  recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
  registrant&#8217;s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant&#8217;s board of
  directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 width=94% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=86% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">All
  significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
  of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
  adversely affect the registrant&#8217;s ability to record, <br>
  process, summarize and report financial information; and</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td colspan=2 valign=top width=89% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=3% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">b)&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=86% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Any
  fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
  who have a <br>
  significant role in the registrant&#8217;s internal control over financial
  reporting.</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=8% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">Date: June 8, 2012</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:245.699982pt;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">/s/
  John R. Howe</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=100% style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">John
  R. Howe</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">Executive
  Vice President</font></p>
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">Chief
  Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>




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<TYPE>EX-32
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>exhibit321.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 32.1
<TEXT>

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<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">EXHIBIT 32.1</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">I, John P. D. Cato, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of The Cato Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), certify, pursuant to
Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.
Section&nbsp;1350, that on the date of this Certification:</font></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:3.0pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:13.5pt;text-align:left;text-indent:-10.5pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">1.</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:7.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp; </font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">the
Form&nbsp;10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended April 28, 2012 (the
&#8220;Report&#8221;) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:13.5pt;text-align:left;text-indent:-13.5pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">2.</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:7.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-right:.5in;margin-top:24.0pt;text-indent:-.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">Dated:
June 8, 2012</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:481.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">/s/ John P. D. Cato</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">John P. D. Cato</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chairman, President and</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>




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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-32
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>exhibit322.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 32.2
<TEXT>

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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>



<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>





</DIV>
<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">EXHIBIT 32.2</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align=center style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">I, John R. Howe, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer of The Cato Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), certify, pursuant to
Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.
Section&nbsp;1350, that on the date of this Certification:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:13.5pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-13.5pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">1.</font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:7.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </font><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">the
Form&nbsp;10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended April 28, 2012 (the
&#8220;Report&#8221;) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">2.&#160; the information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and <br>
&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; results of operations of the Company.</font></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-right:.5in;margin-top:24.0pt;text-indent:-.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman" lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">Dated:
June 8, 2012</font></p>

<div align=left><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="border-collapse:collapse;width:481.500000pt;">
 <tr>
  <td width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">/s/ John R. Howe</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">John R. Howe</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Executive Vice President</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=51% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=49% style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:11.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>

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