Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Williams Robert T
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/01/2004
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATERPILLAR INC [CAT]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
901 W. WASHINGTON, CV4110
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

EAST PEORIA, IL 61630
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common 17,275 (1)
D
 
Common 200
I
Owned by Son (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option (ISO) (2) 06/06/1995(4) 06/06/2005 Common 3,316 $ 30.1562 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/06/1995(4) 06/06/2005 Common 2,984 $ 30.1562 D  
Option (ISO) (2) 06/11/1996(4) 06/11/2006 Common 3,038 $ 32.9062 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/11/1996(4) 06/11/2006 Common 3,262 $ 32.9062 D  
Option (ISO) (2) 06/10/1997(4) 06/10/2007 Common 1,934 $ 51.6562 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/10/1997(4) 06/10/2007 Common 4,366 $ 51.6562 D  
Option (ISO) (2) 06/09/1998(4) 06/09/2008 Common 1,795 $ 55.6875 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/09/1998(4) 06/09/2008 Common 4,505 $ 55.6875 D  
Option (ISO) (2) 06/08/1999(4) 06/08/2009 Common 1,604 $ 62.3438 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/08/1999(4) 06/08/2009 Common 4,696 $ 62.3438 D  
Option (ISO) (2) 06/12/2000(4) 06/12/2010 Common 2,601 $ 38.4063 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/12/2000(4) 06/12/2010 Common 3,849 $ 38.4063 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/12/2001(4) 06/12/2011 Common 7,860 $ 53.53 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/11/2002(4) 06/11/2012 Common 7,860 $ 50.715 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/10/2003(4) 06/10/2013 Common 8,060 $ 54.285 D  
Option (NQ) (2) 06/08/2004(4) 06/08/2014 Common 8,260 $ 77.255 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Williams Robert T
901 W. WASHINGTON, CV4110
EAST PEORIA, IL 61630
      Vice President  

Signatures

Robert T. Williams; L.J. Huxtable, POA 12/02/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This amount includes 7427 shares in 401K and 675 shares in dividend reinvestment.
(2) Stock Option (right to buy) granted under company's 1996 Stock Option Plan.
(3) Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4) Exercisable in thirds - 1/3 after 1 yr.; 1/3 after 2 yrs.; 1/3 after 3 yrs.

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