Provided is an exhaust cleaning catalyst that exhibits higher NO X -reducing activities at the time of engine restart while maintaining its catalytic activities during normal traveling. This invention provides an exhaust cleaning catalyst 7 comprising a substrate 10 and a catalyst coating layer 30 comprising CeO 2 . Catalyst coating layer 30 is constituted in its thickness direction with multiple coating layers. In a top coating layer 50 located at the outermost surface, the CeO 2 content in a top coating layer's upstream portion 51 is less than the CeO 2 content in a top coating layer's downstream portion 52. In a bottom coating layer 40 near substrate 10, the CeO 2 content in a bottom layer's downstream portion 42 is less than the CeO 2 content in a bottom coating layer's upstream portion 41.