Activity and stability of 1%Pd-0.2%Pt/Al2O3 and 1%Pd-0.2%Pt/0.6%Ce/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by impregnation method for catalytic combustion of methane in air were investigated. The catalysts before and after reaction were characterized by BET, CO chemisorption, XRD and XP S techniques. Results showed that the presence of Ce significantly increased the activity and thermal stability of the Pd-Pt/Al2O3 catalyst towards methane combustion, which could be attributed to more highly-dispersed active PdO particles over the Pd-Pt/Ce/Al2O3 catalyst surface as well as the retarded sintering of PdO and the maintained oxidized state of surface Pd during the combustion process in the presence of Ce.