"Lab tested" appears on a lot of pet products, and it can mean very different things. This article explains what we do in the laboratory at our factory in Penrith, NSW: what we test, how each test is carried out, what we measure the results against, why each test matters, and what happens when a result doesn't meet our standard.
Whose lab, and whose standards?
The laboratory is our own. It's an on-site lab at the TF Pet Lab factory in Penrith, run by our own quality staff. It is not an independent or third-party laboratory.
We assess results against TCLA's internal product quality standards. These are acceptance limits we have set ourselves for each product characteristic we test. They are company-defined internal standards. They are not Australian Standards, not an independent third-party standard, and not an accreditation, certification or regulatory approval. We think that distinction matters: a test result only means something when you know who set the bar.
Where the samples come from
Our quality staff take representative samples at three points:
- Raw materials as they arrive at the factory
- In-process material during production
- Finished product before it is released
Each sample is labelled, and where it came from and how it was taken are recorded. That way, every result can be traced back to the material and production run it represents.
What we test, how, and why
Absorption
- What it tells us: how much liquid the litter takes up relative to its own dry weight.
- How it's done: a dry sample is weighed on an analytical balance, exposed to a measured amount of liquid under set conditions, and weighed again.
- What we compare it against: the minimum absorption level set for that product in our internal standard. Each product has its own specification, so we don't quote a single absorption figure for the whole range.
- Why it matters: absorption affects how well moisture is held within the litter and how firmly clumps form.
Clumping
- What it tells us: how quickly clumps form after wetting, and whether they hold together.
- How it's done: a set amount of liquid is added to a sample, the time taken for a clump to form is recorded, and the clump is checked to see whether it stays intact when lifted.
- What we compare it against: the clumping time and clump integrity requirements in our internal standard for that product.
- Why it matters: clumps that crumble leave waste behind in the tray, which affects both odour and whether a cat is happy to keep using it.
Moisture
- What it tells us: how much water is in the finished litter.
- How it's done: using a moisture meter, or by weighing a sample before and after drying it in a laboratory oven.
- What we compare it against: the maximum moisture level in our internal standard.
- Why it matters: too much moisture can affect how the litter stores and performs. With plant-based materials, it's also something we want to keep under control.
Dust
- What it tells us: how much fine particulate matter is present in the litter.
- How it's done: a sample is sieved, and the fine fraction is separated and weighed.
- What we compare it against: the maximum dust level in our internal standard.
- Why it matters: a cat's nose is close to the litter surface every time it digs and covers, and lower dust is also easier on whoever does the scooping.
pH
- What it tells us: how acidic or alkaline the litter is.
- How it's done: a sample is mixed with water and the pH of the mixture is measured.
- What we compare it against: the pH range in our internal standard.
- Why it matters: cats walk on their litter and then groom their paws, so we want its pH to sit within a controlled range.
Ammonia reduction
- What it tells us: how well the litter reduces ammonia, the main source of the sharp litter-box smell.
- How it's done: a sample is wetted, and a gas detection instrument measures ammonia at several points in the first couple of minutes, rather than taking a single reading later on.
- What we compare it against: the benchmark in our internal standard for that product.
- Why it matters: a cat decides within moments whether to step into a tray, so how a litter performs early on matters.
What these tests are for, and what they aren't
Together, these tests help us monitor consistency from one production run to the next, check each product characteristic against its specification, and spot deviations early. They support our decisions to hold, review or release product.
They don't guarantee how a litter will perform in every home or with every cat. And passing our internal standard isn't a safety certification or an external approval.
What happens when a result doesn't meet the standard
If a result falls outside our internal standard, it is recorded and escalated to our quality team. The affected product is held rather than released while it is reviewed. That review can include retesting, checking the sample and how it was taken, and going back through the production records to find the cause. Product is only released if the review confirms it meets the standard. The findings also go back to production so the cause can be corrected.
Testing location is a separate question
Our lab being at our Penrith factory tells you where testing happens. It doesn't, on its own, tell you where a particular product was made, where its ingredients come from, or whether it holds any external certification. Those are separate facts, and we treat them separately for each product.
Questions worth asking any brand about its testing
- Who ran the test: the brand's own lab, or an independent one?
- What standard was the result compared against, and who set it?
- Is the result specific to the product you're buying?
- What happens to a batch that doesn't meet the standard?