Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2023	Jan. 28, 2023
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 55,977,000	$ 20,005,000
Short-term investments	77,222,000	108,652,000
Restricted cash	3,877,000	3,787,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for customer credit losses of $763 and $761 at July 29, 2023 and January 28, 2023, respectively	26,915,000	26,497,000
Merchandise inventories	92,718,000	112,056,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,098,000	6,676,000
Total Current Assets	263,807,000	277,673,000
Property and equipment - net	73,871,000	70,382,000
Noncurrent deferred income taxes	9,888,000	9,213,000
Other assets	21,770,000	21,596,000
Right-of-Use assets - net	138,331,000	174,276,000
Total Assets	507,667,000	553,140,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	84,867,000	91,956,000
Accrued expenses	38,546,000	41,338,000
Accrued employee benefits and bonus	997,000	1,690,000
Accrued income taxes	3,561,000	613,000
Current lease liability	32,431,000	67,360,000
Total Current Liabilities	160,402,000	202,957,000
Other noncurrent liabilities	16,183,000	16,342,000
Lease liability	105,390,000	107,407,000
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $100 par value per share, 100,000 shares authorized, none issued	0	0
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock	695,000	691,000
Additional paid-in capital	124,798,000	122,431,000
Retained earnings	100,756,000	104,709,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(716,000)	(1,238,000)
Total Stockholders' Equity	225,533,000	226,593,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	507,667,000	553,140,000
Class A common stock, $0.033 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 18,825,772 shares and 18,723,225 shares issued at July 29, 2023 and January 28, 2023, respectively
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock	636,000	632,000
Convertible Class B common stock, $0.033 par value per share, 15,000,000 shares authorized; 1,763,652 shares and 1,763,652 shares issued at July 29, 2023 and January 28, 2023, respectively
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock	$ 59,000	$ 59,000

Accrued employee benefits and bonus

No definition available.

Name:	cato_AccruedEmployeeBenefitsAndBonus
Namespace Prefix:	cato_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).