Cato is the surname of:

• Beth Cato (born 1980), American speculative fiction writer and poet
• Bette Cato (1924–1996), American politician
• Bob Cato (1923–1999), American photographer and graphic designer, two-time Grammy Award winner for album covers
• Connie Cato (born 1955), American country music singer
• Cordell Cato (born 1992), Trinidadian footballer
• Daryl Cato (1920–1970), American National Football League player
• Diomedes Cato (1560 to 1565–1618), Italian-born Polish composer
• George Christopher Cato (1814–?), first mayor of Durban, South Africa
• Harry Cato (born 1958), American politician
• John Cato (1926–2011), Australian fine art photographer and teacher
• Kelvin Cato (born 1974), American basketball player
• Lennox Cato (born 1961), British antiques dealer, one of the experts on the British television series Antiques Roadshow
• Leo Cato, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Grenada since 2022
• Louis Cato (born 1985), American musician, bandleader of The Late Show Band
• Lurine Cato, British gospel singer and songwriter
• Milton Cato (1915–1997), first Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Minto Cato (1900–1979), African-American singer and operatic mezzo-soprano
• Molly Scott Cato (born 1963), British politician and economist
• Nancy Cato (1917–2000), Australian writer
• Noah Cato (born 1988), English rugby union player
• Rakeem Cato (born 1992), American football player
• Roland Cato (born 1997), Grenadian cricketer
• Sam Cato (born 1992), English former first-class cricketer
• Suzy Cato (born 1968), New Zealand entertainer