-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000016040-05-000001.txt : 20050104
<SEC-HEADER>0000016040-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050104124756
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000016040-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CABOT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000016040
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS [2890]
		IRS NUMBER:				042271897
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO SEAPORT LANE SUITE 1300
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109-1806
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173450100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO SEAPORT LANE SUITE 1300
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			82109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CABOT GODFREY L INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680418

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLARKESON JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201086

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05667
		FILM NUMBER:		05505294

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		EXCHANGE PL. 37TH FL.
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179731210

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		EXCHANGE PL. 37TH FL
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000016040</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CABOT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201086</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLARKESON JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CABOT CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TWO SEAPORT LANE, SUITE 1300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>243.02</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>243.02</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4653.4</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Immediately exercisable</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares of phantom stock become payable in monthly cash installments upon the reporting person's termination of service as a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On November 11, 2004, Cabot's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.16 per share on Cabot common stock, payable on December 10, 2004 to all holders of record of common stock on November 26, 2004.  Mr. Clarkeson received a dividend on his phantom stock units totalling $702.58, which was immediately reinvested in phantom stock units at a price of $36.52 per share.  As a result, 19.24 phantom stock units were allocated to Mr. Clarkeson on December 10, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michaela Allbee, pursuant to a power of attorney from John Clarkeson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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