-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Qdc/oyyZIlJGo1XzqsUnEDiH1Fsfz5qGi9qnQUqDzHAurSVlMpc014FIDys6CRKz
 5FyDVbyu9OM6KftRIZCasA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000016040-04-000002.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000016040-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106115223
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000016040-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAW JOHN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001058398

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05667
		FILM NUMBER:		04508537

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		0
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 26666
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23261
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047755707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		701 E CARY STREET
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23219

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
</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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000016040</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CABOT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001058398</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAW JOHN A</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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President, CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>949</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.65</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>94661</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natur
eOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>531.98</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Through the Trustee for the Corporation's Retirement Savings Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1372.35</value></underl
yingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9.38</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Through the Trustee for the Corporation's Retirement Savings Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Each share is convertible into 146.4 shares of the Corporation's common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Under the Retirement Savings Plan, the Corporation allocates Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock to each participant's account on a quarterly basis.  Subject to certain terms and conditions of the Retirement Savings Plan, participants may elect to receive distributions of their vested account balance in the form of shares of the Corporation's common stock or cash.  Generally, a participant is 20% vested in his account after 2 years of serv
ice with the Corporation; 40% vested after 3 years of service; 60% vested after 4 years of service; and 100% vested after 5 years of service.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michaela Allbee, pursuant to a Power of Attorney from John Shaw</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----