An apparatus for accelerating the response of an exhaust gas catalyst system downstream of an internal combustion engine, comprising a main catalytic converter and at least one electrically heatable precatalyst disposed upstream of said main catalytic converter as seen in the flow direction of the exhaust gas, said precatalyst including sheet-metal layers forming a plurality of channels through which the exhaust gas can flow, said sheet-metal layers having a thickness of substantially 0.03 to 0.06 mm, and electrical insulating means for electrically dividing said precatalyst and for forming at least one electric current path through said sheet-metal layers having an electric resistance of substantially between 0.2 and 2 .OMEGA..