The invention relates to a rotary kiln catch wheel hydraulic system and a working method thereof. The system comprises an oil tank A, a gear pump, a first one-way valve, a first pressure switch, a first electromagnetic directional valve, a first one-way throttle valve, a second one-way throttle valve, a second pressure switch, a second one-way valve, a third one-way valve, a first filter, an overflow valve, a second filter, a third pressure switch, a fourth one-way valve, an oil tank B, a small-flow high-pressure pump, a catch wheel oil cylinder, a fifth one-way valve and a second electromagnetic directional valve. The rotary kiln catch wheel hydraulic system and the working method thereof aim to shorten the oil supplementing time of the catch wheel hydraulic system, and the adjusting result of the throttle valves is not damaged in the oil supplementing process; and in addition, the hydraulic system is used for monitoring the stress state of a rotary kiln during running, key components of the rotary kiln are effectively protected, and the service life of the rotary kiln is prolonged.