The invention relates to a hydrotreating catalyst and application thereof. The catalyst contains a carrier, and hydrogenation activity metal components nickel, cobalt, tungsten and molybdenum which are loaded on the carrier. The carrier is taken as a benchmark, the carbon content in the carrier is 0.3-5 in wt%, the carrier contains heat-proof inorganic oxide and charcoal, the carrier is prepared by a method in which the heat-proof inorganic oxide and/or the precursors of the heat-proof inorganic oxide and carbon black powder and/or the precursors of charcoal are mixed, molded, dried and activated, wherein activation comprises the following steps: (1) under the existence of isolated air and/or inert gas, carrying out heating treatment to a molded material subjected to drying, keeping the heating treatment temperature at 400-800 DEG C, and maintaining the time for 0.5-8 hours; (2) under the ambience of water vapor and/or carbon dioxide, carrying out heating treatment to a product obtained in step (1), keeping the heating temperature at 600-950 DEG C, maintaining the time for 0.3-4 hours, and enabling the flow rate of the water vapor and/or carbon dioxide to be 50-500 normal liters/kilogram.hour. The catalyst is suitable for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon oil so as to prepare a clean oil product.