PURPOSE: To obtain an inexpensive catalytic combustion device having high activity and high heat resistance, by molding a rare earth metal, a transition metal and, if necessary, a small amount of a platinum group metal into a composite metal oxide and supporting the molded one by a foamed ceramic body comprising a heat resistant material.

CONSTITUTION: An inorg. heat resistant material such as alumina or cordierite is molded into ceramic foam or honeycomb being a foamed ceramic body while a rare earth metal such as La or Cl, a transition metal such as Co or Ni and, if necessary, a small amount of a platinum group metal are molded into composite metal oxide having a perovskite structure and the molded catalyst component is supported by the foamed ceramic body to form a catalyst mat. As a result, the extremely excellent catalyst inexpensive and having high activity and high heat resistance as compared with a conventional platinum group catalyst mat is obtained.