To obtain a saturated hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst improved in the activity of oxidizing saturated HCs in a low-temperature region and improved also in high-temperature durability.

The catalyst contains a first oxide carrying a catalytic metal and a second oxide higher than the first oxide in hydrophobicity. It is possible to effect cleaning by efficiently oxidizing saturated HCs because the adsorption of a water vapor on the catalyst metal can be reduced to inhibit active sites from decreasing in virtue of the reduced access of the vapor to the carrier.