A porous catalyst support having an increased average pore size is produced from a mixed metal oxide material. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for preparing a mixed metal oxide material includes providing a mixed metal oxide precursor containing at least two metals, calcining the mixed metal oxide precursor at a temperature sufficient to form a thermally and mechanically stable mixed metal oxide material, and leaching the mixed metal oxide material in a leach solution with a constituent that dissolves one metal oxide. Preferably, the calcination temperature is approximately between 300 C. and 1300 C. The leaching constituent may be chosen from the group including acidic solutions of HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₃, and their combinations, or basic solutions of NH₃, NaOH, KOH, and their combinations.