SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C.  20549
                              
                              
                              
                          FORM 8-K
                              
                              
                       CURRENT REPORT
                              
           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              
                              
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 24, 1995
                              
                              
            THE CATO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
                              
                         Delaware
        State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
                              
                              
     0-3747                                           56-0484485
Commission File Number                            I.R.S. Employer
                                                  Identification No.


  8100 Denmark Road, Charlotte, North Carolina  28273-5975
           Address of Principal Executive Offices
                              
                              
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (704) 554-8510



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Item 4. Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant

     On August 24, 1995, the Board of Directors of The Cato
Corporation, at the recommendation of the Company's
Audit Committee, voted to dismiss Ernst and Young LLP as
the Company's independent accountants and to appoint
Deloitte Touche LLP as the Company's independent
accountants, effective August 24, 1995.

     During the Company's two most recent fiscal years
ending January 28, 1995 and January 29, 1994, Ernst and Young LLP's 
reports on the financial statements contained no adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.

     During the last two fiscal years ending January 28,
1995 and January 29, 1994, and through August 24, 1995,
there were no disagreements with Ernst and Young  LLP on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, auditing scope or procedure which
disagreements, if not resolved to  the satisfaction of Ernst
and Young LLP would have caused it to make reference   to
the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with
its reports.

     During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and
through August 24, 1995, there have been no reportable
events with Ernst and Young LLP as required  by Item 304 (a)
(l) (v) of Regulation S-K.

     On August 24, 1995, the Company engaged Deloitte Touche
LLP as its principal accountants to audit the Company's
financial statements.  During the Company's  two most recent
fiscal years and through August 24, 1995, the Company has
not  consulted with Deloitte Touche LLP on items which
concerned the application of  accounting principles to a
specific transaction, either completed or proposed, on
the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the
Company's financial statements or concerned the subject
matters of a disagreement or reportable event  with Ernst
and Young LLP.

     The Company requested Ernst and Young LLP to furnish it
with a letter addressed  to the Securities and Exchange
Commission stating whether Ernst and Young   LLP agrees with
the statements contained in the second, third, and fourth
paragraphs above.  A copy of the letter from Ernst and Young
LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed
as Exhibit 1 hereto.

Item 7.Financial Statements and Exhibits

     1)   Letter from Ernst and Young LLP to the Securities
          and Exchange Commission.



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                         Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.

                                   THE CATO CORPORATION




August 30, 1995               \s\ Alan E. Wiley
    Date                      Alan E. Wiley
                              Executive Vice President -
                              Secretary, Chief Financial and
                              Administrative Officer













August 29, 1995




Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549


Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4 of Form 8-K dated August 30, 1995, of
The Cato Corporation and are in agreement with the
statements contained in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th paragraphs on
page 1 therein.  We have no basis or disagree with other
statements of the registrant contained therein.


                                        
                                     \s\ Ernst & Young LLP