The invention concerns a catalyst comprising a predominantly calcined aluminium oxide matrix and an active phase comprising nickel, said active phase being at least partially comulled in said predominantly calcined aluminium oxide matrix, the nickel content being between 5 and 65% by weight of said element relative to the total mass of the catalyst, said active phase not comprising group VIB metal, the nickel particles having a diameter less than 15 nm, said catalyst having a mesoporous median diameter of between 12 nm and 25 nm, a macroporous median diameter of between 50 and 300 nm, a mesoporous volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.40 mL/g and a total porous volume measured by mercury porosimetry greater than or equal to 0.45 mL/g. The invention also concerns the method of preparing said catalyst and the use of same in a hydrogenation method.