Methanation catalysts and process for preparing and using the same are disclosed; said methanation catalysts being especially suitable for producing synthetic fuel gas, from either naturally occurring liquid hydrocarbons or synthetic liquid hydrocarbons produced from solid carbonaceous materials, the product gas having substantially the same heating value and density as natural gas and which may be intermingled therewith and distributed through the same pipe lines.The methanation catalyst comprises an interspersed mixture of metals selected from Groups IV(B), V(B), VI(B) and VIII metals of the Periodic Table, composited with an inorganic refractory oxide support or matrix.