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Financial Information by Segment - Schedule of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Taxes for Unallocated and Other (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Restructuring charges $ 7us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 5us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Certain Item [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Restructuring charges 7us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
5us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Acquisition and integration related charges 1us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
5us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Employee benefit plan settlement charge 18us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToSettlements1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
 
One-time integration costs   3us-gaap_BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Acquisition of accounting adjustments for acquired inventory   2cbt_AcquisitionAccountingAdjustmentForAcquiredInventory
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Reserves for environmental matters   1us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Foreign currency exchange rate, re measurement income   6cbt_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasurementIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember
Non-cash gain on acquisition   $ 29us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsNetGainsAndLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cbt_CertainItemsMember