Cat Mate water fountain filter compatibility

Cat Mate has used more than one filter system. A pack described simply as “Cat Mate fountain filters” is therefore not enough to identify the right replacement. Start with the model on the fountain, then choose the filtration stage and pack size within its supported family.

For the familiar multi-level plastic fountains, the useful distinction is between the standard two-stage cartridge and the three-stage version. Newer ceramic and stainless-steel designs need a separate check. A filter that looks similar in a thumbnail is not evidence that it will sit correctly in the holder.

Compare pack quantities after selecting the supported cartridge

For two compatible traditional fountains and three planned changes per fountain, six cartridges are required. Comparing the six-pack standard family and four-pack three-stage family shows how pack arithmetic differs without ranking their filtration functions.

Compare pack quantities after selecting the supported cartridge

Supported selection for the example	Cartridges required	Pack count	Remainder after six uses	Source
389 standard polymer/carbon family	6	1 × 6-pack	0 unused; Choose only where the model and water guidance support this family	[1]
386 three-stage family	6	2 × 4-pack	2 unused; Choose only where its model and care requirements are satisfied	[2]

One 389 six-pack meets the six-unit example exactly. Two 386 four-packs provide eight cartridges and leave two unused after six changes. Neither statement establishes which family is appropriate for the actual water and fountain.

A mixed collection containing a newer ceramic or steel Cat Mate design needs another model-specific line in the order; its demand cannot automatically be added to either traditional cartridge total.

Sources for this comparison

1. Closer Pets 389 six-pack — Traditional CP335/385 list; standard soft-water option.
2. Closer Pets 386 four-pack — Three-stage list includes CP335/335 and CP385/385.

Find the fountain model before opening a refill pack

Unplug the fountain before lifting or dismantling it. Empty it in a controlled way, then read the label on the base or consult the original manual. Write down the complete reference, including a CP prefix where present. The pump’s own electrical reference is not necessarily the fountain model.

For a second-hand fountain, photograph the base label and the cartridge holder while it is empty. An old filter can help show the shape, but it may itself have been the wrong replacement. Confirm the fountain rather than treating an unidentified used cartridge as the specification.

The traditional families covered here are 335/CP335 and 385/CP385. If the label identifies another design, stop at that distinction and use its own accessories page. In particular, do not extend the table to a ceramic fountain or the newer 2.2 litre stainless-steel fountain merely because Cat Mate appears on both boxes.

339, 389 and 386: what the numbers mean

339 and 389 are useful examples of why a different pack number does not always mean a completely different filtration design. Conversely, the three-stage 386 is more than another quantity of the standard cartridge. Its pre-filter, resin and carbon stages are the reason to consider it where the maker recommends that filtration option.

The 389 product information also notes that cartridges may arrive with or without the blue casing while retaining the supported fit. Colour alone is consequently a poor way to authenticate a pack. Use the product reference, stated fountain list and intact packaging together.

A standard replacement for the supported soft-water setup

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Traditional Cat Mate fountains in soft-water areas

Cat Mate 389 two-stage filters, pack of six

A six-pack of polymer/carbon cartridges for the traditional 335/CP335 and 385/CP385 fountain families. The maker positions this two-stage option for soft-water use; do not transfer its fit to newer ceramic or steel models.

Check: Not the three-stage 386 cartridge

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The six-pack makes sense when you already own a compatible traditional fountain and intend to keep using the standard cartridge. It does not establish that six filters will last a particular household a guaranteed number of months. Hair, food debris, the number of animals and the care routine all affect what happens between changes.

Before ordering a larger pack, make sure you can identify your current fountain confidently. Keeping an unopened spare dry is more useful than accumulating several packs of an uncertain fit. Store the outer label with the spare cartridges so the model information is available next time.

The supported three-stage alternative

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The supported three-stage Cat Mate option

Cat Mate 386 three-stage filters, pack of four

Four three-stage cartridges with pre-filter, ion-exchange resin and activated carbon. The maker lists 335/CP335 and 385/CP385 compatibility and hard- or soft-water use.

Check: Does not remove the need to descale

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The 386 adds the resin stage and is the manufacturer’s hard- or soft-water option for the listed traditional fountains. That is a filtration choice within those supported models. It does not turn the fountain into a water steriliser or remove the need to wash the bowl and dismantle the pump as instructed.

Hard-water deposits can still require attention. If scale is visible around the outlet or impeller area, follow the fountain’s descaling procedure rather than fitting another cartridge and hoping the restriction disappears. For the wider routine, use how to clean a cat water fountain.

Fit the cartridge without changing the holder

1. Confirm the complete model and the replacement reference before removing the wrapper.
2. Prepare the new cartridge using the rinsing or soaking instructions supplied with that exact pack. Do not wash carbon media with washing-up liquid.
3. Seat it in the intended holder and orientation. Check that the lid and water path return to their normal positions.
4. Reassemble the clean pump and fountain, fill to the instructed level and check for leakage before restoring power with dry hands.
5. Watch the normal water flow and keep a separate clean drinking bowl available while the fountain is being serviced.

A cartridge that needs cutting, folding or a modified holder has not passed the fit check. Do not trim its casing to make the lid close. If the replacement will not seat naturally, compare the full product reference with the manual and ask the maker about the exact fountain revision.

A small release of loose carbon dust during the preparation described by the pack is a different issue from damaged media, broken casing or a cartridge that sheds persistently. Stop using damaged parts and seek replacement guidance rather than leaving them circulating in the bowl.

Keep filtration and cleaning as separate jobs

A cartridge can help with the tasks its media is designed for, but it cannot scrub slime from a bowl, remove trapped hair from an impeller or compensate for a low reservoir. Fresh water, physical washing and correct pump assembly remain part of ownership.

Use the exact replacement interval in the fountain and cartridge instructions, bringing attention forward when the condition requires it. A calendar reminder is useful for remembering to inspect; it is not a reason to leave visibly dirty equipment in service. Neither a clear-looking bowl nor continued water movement proves that old carbon is still doing its original job.

If a fountain becomes noisy after a filter change, first check the water level, seated parts and unobstructed flow with the power disconnected for dismantling. The separate noisy fountain checks cover that decision without treating every noise as a reason to replace the complete fountain.

Keep the next order easy to identify

Save a short note with the fountain model, chosen filter code and usual pack quantity. Photograph the correct unopened pack beside that note. This helps another household member order a refill without having to recognise the cartridge by colour or guess from a shared brand name.

For Catit equipment, use the separate Catit filter compatibility guide. For PetSafe equipment, use Drinkwell filter families. Those systems should be identified independently.

Manufacturer references

The Cat Mate filter range, 389 product information, 386 product information and three-stage filter FAQ support the model and filtration distinctions above.