Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 101	$ 95
Accounts and notes receivable, net of reserve for doubtful accounts of $8 and $8	724	633
Inventories:
Raw materials	119	100
Work in process	2	2
Finished goods	366	309
Other	45	44
Total inventories	532	455
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	103	58
Notes receivable from sale of business	0	214
Deferred income taxes	37	36
Current assets held for sale	4	4
Total current assets	1,501	1,495
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,616	1,600
Goodwill	555	502
Equity affiliates	71	119
Intangible assets, net	354	308
Assets held for rent	55	49
Deferred income taxes	80	68
Other assets	57	83
Noncurrent assets held for sale	9	9
Total assets	4,298	4,233
Current liabilities:
Notes payable	119	264
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	537	534
Income taxes payable	39	30
Deferred income taxes	2	2
Current portion of long-term debt	18	14
Total current liabilities	715	844
Long-term debt	1,026	1,020
Deferred income taxes	49	21
Other liabilities	273	265
Redeemable preferred stock	29
Commitments and contingencies (Note I)
Preferred stock:
Authorized: 2,000,000 shares of $1 par value Issued and Outstanding: None and none	0	0
Common stock:
Authorized: 200,000,000 shares of $1 par value Issued: 64,832,912 and 64,223,985 shares Outstanding: 64,580,371 and 63,970,502 shares	65	64
Less cost of 252,541 and 253,483 shares of common treasury stock	(8)	(8)
Additional paid-in capital	57	39
Retained earnings	1,883	1,755
Deferred employee benefits		(2)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	90	103
Total Cabot Corporation stockholders' equity	2,087	1,951
Noncontrolling interests	119	132
Total stockholders' equity	2,206	2,083
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,298	$ 4,233