About MPL

What is MPL?

Mineral pet litter (MPL) is produced from naturally occurring clay minerals. The most common examples are bentonite, sepiolite and attapulgite. These minerals are selected because they have the exceptional natural property to absorb liquid as well as to control odors. Depending on the type of mineral, the product can either form clumps when wet or remain unbound.

All minerals used to produce pet litter also have other applications and can be found in daily products such as animal food, cosmetics, agricultural products or even paper and paint. Did you know that bentonite and sepiolite can also be used for the filtration of your olive oil and wine?

Mineral pet litter is the preferred type of pet litter by European and American households. Each year, around one million ton of mineral pet litter is used in Europe.

Mineral pet litter (MPL) arises directly from the need to provide our pets with a hygienic and clean environment inside the home to “answer nature’s call.” Various types of beddings can be found depending on their composition and characteristics, but mineral litters, specifically those based on natural clays , sepiolite, attapulgite and moler ) are majority. This fact is no coincidence, as thanks to their structure and natural composition, they can absorb a large amount of liquid and control bad odors very well. Moreover, they have specific cavities in their structure capable of trapping the molecules that cause bad odor, which are not found in other types of materials.

Depending on the type of mineral, naturally clumping solutions emerge, meaning the liquid is retained in a well-defined clump that can be removed with a scoop or, purely non-clumping/ absorbent options, in which the substrate absorbs as much liquid as possible until it becomes saturated.

These options directly govern the maintenance routine: in clumping litters, solid, high-quality clumps block bad odors and allow for quick daily cleaning; while the more classic, non-clumping options do not require strict daily cleaning, but rather periodic change of the entire content of the tray when it becomes saturated.

Therefore, all pets (and their owners) have their own individual preferences when choosing a type of litter for the tray, but both solutions are widely accepted as they closely resemble what they would find available in nature. Fulfilling the mission of scratching and burying their deposits to feel safe as it is the behavior, they instinctively follow to hide their trail from predators. Thus, good absorption and odor control are not only important for maintaining hygiene at home but also for making our pet feel more comfortable and safer. A solution provided by mineral litter.

How is MPL made?

Mineral pet litter (MPL) is a natural product extracted from local mines and subjected to minimal physical processing. After an initial stage of airing, sun drying, and if necessary, industrial drying to remove excess moisture, the product undergoes milling and screening to achieve a granular size with the appropriate particle size to enhance its properties, before finally being packaged. The MPL does not contain any additional elements at a mayor component level, except for small amounts of additives to boost its performance, such as perfumes or specific compounds for odour control.

In general, mineral extraction is carried out in a sustainable manner to ensure reserves and make optimal use of natural resources.

History of MPL

A cat’s natural conduct is to go into the garden. For domestic cats, the litter tray was invented, and at first cat owners used ordinary sand, wood shavings or old newspapers as litter. It was not very hygienic and could become smelly creating concerns for the pet owner and pet.

In 1948, Edward Loewe decided to use natural granular absorbent clays sold to garages and machinery shops for cleaning oil spills and drips in the cat litter box. Initially, this was a clay-type product called attapulgite, with interesting absorption properties. Both the pet and owner loved the absorbent granules, and this was the start of MPL.

In the early eighties, clumping cat litter made of bentonite was found. The clumps captured the unpleasant odors and can be scooped out. After scooping, the litter tray is clean again and has to be filled up to the original level. In contrast, for non-clumping litter the entire litter tray has to be renewed once or twice a week, making clumping material more economical to use.

In the nineties, the first non-clay products entered the market. Typically, the non-clay or organic cat litter (made from wood, corn, straw, hay, coconut skins, silica gel, et cetera,) do not form clumps. However, in recent years special processing and additives have been developed to form clumping organic products.

Who we are?

This initiative aims to inform about the use, safety, and sustainability of mineral pet litter. The website has been jointly created by MPL producers to share advice and information on the most frequent questions coming from curious and environmentally engaged pet owners. All information here provided is supported by scientific evidence and studies. For more information, please contact secretariat@ima-europe.eu.