Catalytic conversion of cycloparaffins is a complex process involving competing reaction steps. To understand this process, FCC experiments using methylcyclohexane (MCH) on USY zeolite catalysts were carried out in the mini-fluidized CREC riser simulator. Runs were developed under relevant FCC process conditions in terms of partial pressures of MCH, temperatures (450-550 degrees C), contact times (3-7 s), catalyst-oil mass ratios (5), and using fluidized catalysts. MCH overall conversions ranged between 4 to 16 wt %, with slightly higher conversions obtained using the larger zeolite crystallites. Moreover, it was found that MCH undergoes ring opening, protolytic cracking, isomerization, hydrogen transfer and transalkylation. A heterogeneous kinetic model for MCH conversion including thermal effects, adsorption and intrinsic catalytic reaction phenomena was established. Adsorption and kinetic parameters were determined, including the heat of adsorption (-40 kJ/mol), as well as thermal and primary catalytic intrinsic activation energies, which were in the range of 43-69 kJ/mol, and 5074 kJ/mol, respectively. (C) 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 55: 1538-1558, 2009