Abstract: Carrier supported catalysts are prepared, comprising metal ions which in their most stable state occur as anions or as higher-valency cations which exhibit a poor interaction with the support material by deposition-precipitation through increasing the hydroxyl ion concentration in homogeneous solution. According to the invention, prior to deposition-precipitation the metal ions are electrochemically reduced to soluble metal ions having a lower valency. Preferably, the pH value of a suspension of the support to be loaded in a solution of the electrochemically reduced metal ions is homogeneously increased by hydrolysis of compounds such as urea or isocyanate, or by the controlled injection of an alkaline solution below the surface of the suspension.