Abstract: The present technology provides a method of making a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst, the method includes: in situ crystallizing Y-zeolite on a precursor microsphere to provide the FCC catalyst, wherein the in situ crystallizing includes: mixing the precursor microspheres with sodium silicate, a zeolite initiator (seeding zeolite crystals), and water to form an alkaline slurry; and heating the alkaline slurry to a temperature of about 38° C. (100° F.) to about 93° C. (200° F.) to obtain a zeolitic microsphere material; and wherein the FCC catalyst has a zeolite content of less than or equal to about 30 weight percent (wt.%). The unit cell size of the zeolite Y is 24.60 to 24.70 angstrom.