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USD ($)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
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12/31/2010
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12/31/2009
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12/31/2008
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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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12/31/2010
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12/31/2009
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12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_PortionAtOtherThanFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCarrying amount of assets excluded from measurement at fair valuecat_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingMethodologyAndAssumptionsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtOtherThanFairValueFairValueDisclosureMembercat_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingMethodologyAndAssumptionsAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$25falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingMethodologyAndAssumptionsAxis} : Carrying amount of assets excluded from measurement at fair value
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_PortionAtOtherThanFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCarrying amount of assets excluded from measurement at fair valuecat_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingMethodologyAndAssumptionsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtOtherThanFairValueFairValueDisclosureMembercat_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingMethodologyAndAssumptionsAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse54true0cat_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse55false0cat_LeasesReceivableNetCommercialLeaseFinancingcatfalsedebitinstantThe amount, net of any allowance, of commercial loans (money lent to commercial entities rather than consumers) made in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse72920000007292falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse77800000007780falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse89510000008951falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount, net of any allowance, of commercial loans (money lent to commercial entities rather than consumers) made in the form of direct financing leases where the reporting entity (lessor) only recognizes interest revenue from the lease. It also includes the amount of lease financing arising from involvement with leveraged lease transactions where the entity is in the position of long-term creditor.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse450Fair value disclosures (Details 3) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
