diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
index ac30614cc..fdafb0348 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ local dbg_spawn_counts = {}
 local aoc_range = 136
 
 local mob_cap = {
-	monster = minetest.settings:get_bool("mcl_mob_cap_monster") or 70,
-	animal = minetest.settings:get_bool("mcl_mob_cap_animal") or 10,
-	ambient = minetest.settings:get_bool("mcl_mob_cap_ambient") or 15,
-	water = minetest.settings:get_bool("mcl_mob_cap_water") or 5, --currently unused
-	water_ambient = minetest.settings:get_bool("mcl_mob_cap_water_ambient") or 20, --currently unused
+	monster = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_monster")) or 70,
+	animal = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_animal")) or 10,
+	ambient = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_ambient")) or 15,
+	water = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_water")) or 5, --currently unused
+	water_ambient = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_water_ambient")) or 20, --currently unused
+	player = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_player")) or 75,
+	total = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("mcl_mob_cap_total")) or 500,
 }
 
 --do mobs spawn?
@@ -664,7 +666,13 @@ if mobs_spawn then
 		timer = timer + dtime
 		if timer < 10 then return end
 		timer = 0
-		for _, player in pairs(get_connected_players()) do
+		local players = get_connected_players()
+		local total_mobs = count_mobs_total()
+		if total_mobs > mob_cap.total or total_mobs > #players * mob_cap.player then
+			minetest.log("warning","[mcl_mobs] mob cap reached. no cycle spawning.")
+			return
+		end --mob cap per player
+		for _, player in pairs(players) do
 			local pos = player:get_pos()
 			local dimension = mcl_worlds.pos_to_dimension(pos)
 			-- ignore void and unloaded area
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
index f1d1da46e..eebe16f98 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ local cow_def = {
 	xp_min = 1,
 	xp_max = 3,
 	collisionbox = {-0.45, -0.01, -0.45, 0.45, 1.39, 0.45},
+	spawn_in_group = 8,
+	spawn_in_group_min = 3,
 	visual = "mesh",
 	mesh = "mobs_mc_cow.b3d",
 	textures = { {
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 0265778b6..97464d79c 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ mobs_griefing (Mobs change blocks) bool true
 # If enabled, mobs won't damage particles when they got hurt.
 mobs_disable_blood (Disable mob damage particles) bool false
 
+#Maximum amount mobs (default:500)
+mcl_mob_cap_total (Global mob cap) int 500 0 2048
+
+#Maximum amount of mobs per player (default:75)
+mcl_mob_cap_player (Mob cap per player) int 75 0 2048
+
 #Maximum amount of monsters that will spawn near a player (default:70)
 mcl_mob_cap_monster (Mob cap monsters) int 70 0 2048