Most　of　volatile　organic　compounds　(VOCs)　are　harmful　to　the　atmosphere　and　human　health.　Catalytic　combustion　is　an　effective　way　to　eliminate　VOCs.　The　key　issue　is　the　availability　of　high　performance　catalysts.　Many　catalysts　including　transition　metal　oxides,　mixed　metal　oxides,　and　supported　noble　metals　have　been　developed.　Among　these　catalysts,　the　porous　ones　attract　much　attention.　In　this　review,　we　focus　on　recent　advances　in　the　synthesis　of　ordered　mesoporous　and　macroporous　transition　metal　oxides,　perovskites,　and　supported　noble　metal　catalysts　and　their　catalytic　oxidation　of　VOCs.　The　porous　catalysts　outperformed　their　bulk　counterparts.　This　excellent　catalytic　performance　was　due　to　their　high　surface　areas,　high　concentration　of　adsorbed　oxygen　species,　low　temperature　reducibility,　strong　interaction　between　noble　metal　and　support　and　highly　dispersed　noble　metal　nanoparticles　and　unique　porous　structures.　Catalytic　oxidation　of　carbon　monoxide　over　typical　catalysts　was　also　discussed.　We　made　conclusive　remarks　and　proposed　future　work　for　the　removal　of　VOCs.　(C)　2016,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.