An exhaust gas-purifying catalyst includes a substrate, and a catalytic layer facing the substrate and including a precious metal, alumina, an oxygen storage material, and a sulfate of an alkaline-earth metal having an average particle diameter falling within a range of 0.01 to 0.70 μm, the average particle diameter being obtained by observation using a scanning electron microscope. Another exhaust gas-purifying catalyst includes a substrate, and a catalytic layer formed on the substrate using slurry containing a precious metal, alumina, an oxygen storage material, and a sulfate of an alkaline-earth metal having an average particle diameter falling within a range of 0.01 to 0.70 μm, the average particle diameter being obtained by observation using a scanning electron microscope.