Particulate catalytic cracking catalysts which comprise a zeolite having catalytic cracking ability under catalytic cracking conditions, added silica, a magnesium salt, an alumina containing binder, clay and optionally, a matrix material. The catalytic cracking catalyst has a high matrix surface area and is useful in a catalytic cracking process, in particularly, a fluid catalytic cracking process, to provide increased catalytic activity and improved coke and hydrogen selectivity without the need to incorporate rare earth metals.