The invention relates to a catalyst composition using other metals different from precious metals as a catalytically active component and is to propose a novel catalyst composition for exhaust gas purification which has excellent catalytic activity, in particular, excellent treatment activity of HC even after a thermal durability treatment. The invention is to propose a catalyst composition for exhaust gas purification comprising catalyst particles having a constitution in which Cu and a transition metal A including at least one of Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Zr, and Ag are supported on ceria (CeO2) particles and a catalyst using the same.