The invention discloses a preparation method of a copper-containing catalyst, which comprises the following steps: (1) carrying out parallel flow gelatinization reaction on a mixed solution A and a sodium metaaluminate solution to obtain slurry I, and aging the slurry I; (2) dropwise adding the mixed solution B and a sodium carbonate solution into the aged slurry I obtained in the step (1) in a parallel flow manner, carrying out a gelling reaction to obtain slurry II, and aging the slurry II; and (3) carrying out solid-liquid separation on the material obtained in the step (2), and drying, roasting and molding the solid phase to obtain the catalyst, wherein a quaternary ammonium salt compound is added before the gelling reaction in the step (1), wherein the mixed solution A is an aqueous solution containing a soluble copper salt, a soluble zinc salt and an organic auxiliary agent, and the mixed solution B is an aqueous solution containing a soluble copper salt and a soluble aluminum salt. The catalyst has characteristics of uniform active metal copper distribution, good synergistic effect, large active metal active center number, catalyst activity improving, catalyst selectivity improving, catalyst thermal stability improving, and good application prospect.