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Also includes the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 17, 22 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 13 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(3) Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph b falsefalse74false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTaxus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReclassification adjustment for unrealized gains or losses realized upon the sale of securities, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(3) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph b Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 18, 19 falsefalse75false0us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCashus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse-1103000000-1103falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse-1103000000-1103falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCommon stock cash dividend declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 falsefalse76false0cat_ChangeInOwnershipForNoncontrollingInterestscatfalsedebitdurationIncrease or decrease in noncontrolling interest balances due to change in ownership for noncontrolling interest.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-69000000-69falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-66000000-66falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse-135000000-135falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncrease or decrease in noncontrolling interest balances due to change in ownership for noncontrolling interest.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse77false0cat_CommonSharesIssuedFromTreasuryStockForStockBasedCompensationcatfalsecreditdurationValue of treasury stock reissued during the period for stock-based compensation.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse7400000074falsefalsefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse222000000222falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse296000000296falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValue of treasury stock reissued during the period for stock-based compensation.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse78false0cat_CommonSharesIssuedFromTreasuryStockForBenefitPlanscatfalsecreditdurationValue of common stock issued from treasury stock for benefit plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse6700000067[4]falsefalsefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse2700000027[4]falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse9400000094[4]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValue of common stock issued from treasury stock for benefit plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse79false0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse226000000226falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse226000000226falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValue of stock issued during the period as a result of any share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph 64 falsefalse80false0us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensationus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse151000000151falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse151000000151falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax benefit associated with any share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The tax benefit results from the deduction by the entity on its tax return for an award of stock that exceeds the cumulative compensation cost for common stock or preferred stock recognized for financial reporting. Includes any resulting tax benefit that exceeds the previously recognized deferred tax asset (excess tax benefits).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph 62 falsefalse81false0cat_NoncontrollingInterestShareRedemptioncatfalsedebitdurationImpact of unconsolidated affiliates share redemption on stockholders' equityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse8200000082[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-55000000-55[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse2700000027[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryImpact of unconsolidated affiliates share redemption on stockholders' equityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse82false0us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse24880000002488falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A5 -Appendix A Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 29 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a truefalse83false0us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabelinstant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:001truefalsefalse38880000003888falsetruefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse-10397000000-10397falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse2138400000021384falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-4051000000-4051falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse4000000040falsetruefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse1086400000010864falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 25 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 26 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A3 -Appendix A falsefalse1Amount consists of $1,800 million of cash-settled purchases and $94 million of derivative contracts.2See Notes 23 and 24 regarding the Cat Japan share redemption.3Includes noncredit component of other-than-temporary impairment losses on retained interests of $(8) million, net of tax of $4 million, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. See Note 6 and 17 for additional information.4See Note 12 regarding shares issued for benefit plans.5See Note 6 for additional information.783Changes in Consolidated Stockholders' Equity (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue