PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cationic surfactant or the like having excellent preservation stability and softness, and good tone of color. SOLUTION: This cationic surfactant is characterized in that the surfactant contains (i) >；=75 pts.wt. specific cationic compound, (ii) <；=7.5 pts.wt. specific alkanolamine ester, (iii) <；=12.5 pts.wt. specific amine monoalkyl sulfonate, (iv) <；=2.5 pts.wt. lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid, (v) <；=7.5 pts.wt. specific sulfuric acid ester-type betain compound, and (vi) <；=0.5 pts.wt. water based on 100 pts.wt. total of the components (i) to (vi), and has >；=0.85 cationization degree: (cationization degree)=[cationic compound (weight)]/[(alkanolamine ester+ amine monoalkyl sulfonate+cationic compound) (total weight)].
