The invention aims to provide a catalyst for directly preparing methyl methacrylate by reacting methyl propionate with formaldehyde and a preparation method thereof. The catalyst is characterized in that the mass ratio of load metal of the catalyst to a carrier is Cs to Zr to Ce to SiO2 being (1-10):(0.005-0.5):(0.001-0.1):100; in the preparation process by an immersion method, a water-soluble nonionic surfactant is added to be used as a dispersing accelerator of an active component on the carrier surface; and the dispersion degree of the active component Cs on the carrier surface can be improved by changing the concentration or the kinds of the dispersing accelerator so as to improve the catalytic performance of the catalyst.