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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NSL3/KqQDMCzKMHM5eWw8n4xia6FhP5Jznb6rHJx3iSKyN81ZDvVWPyrWotFpN0d
 kwc8d6a3+N8AQH4f8I3vfw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000016040-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000016040-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105142155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000016040-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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:		04503705

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</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>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>295.23</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.84</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><underlyingSecurit
yTitle><value>Common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>295.23</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3352.01</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><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 14, 2003, Cabot's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.15 per share on Cabot common stock, payable on December 12, 2003 to all holders of record of common stock on November 28, 2003.  Mr. Clarkeson received a div
idend on his phantom stock units totalling $456.40, which was immediately reinvested in phantom stock units at a price of $32.35 per share.  As a result, 14.11 phantom stock units were allocated to Mr. Clarkeson on December 12, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michaela Allbee, pursuant to a power of attorney from John Clarkeson</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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