Cat Mate and Catit PIXI fountain filter replacement

Cat Mate and PIXI replacement filters: which pack fits?

Cat Mate filters: check reference 386

For the Cat Mate three-level fountain in our fountain buying guide, the manufacturer's own 386 cartridge is the straightforward replacement choice. Closer Pets lists compatibility with 335, CP335, 385 and CP385, and suitability for hard and soft water. Follow your own fountain's maintenance instructions; the monthly interval above comes from the 335 manual.

Catit PIXI filters: check the PIXI name and pack size

Catit specifies these filters for its PIXI fountain range: three-pack 43721, six-pack 43722 and twelve-pack 43723. The linked option is the six-pack. A Catit brand name on another fountain does not establish that it takes a PIXI cartridge.

These are our picks for owners of the matching fountains because the manufacturers document the fit. A similar-looking third-party cartridge is not enough to establish equivalent filtration performance.

Download this diagram (SVG)

How often should you replace a cat fountain filter?

The PIXI manual specifies every three to four weeks, or sooner with heavy debris or restricted flow. Catit's filter product page says every 30 days. Follow the instructions supplied with your equipment and respond to its condition rather than stretching the interval to the longest number you can find.

The Cat Mate 335 manual recommends monthly replacement for one cat; multiple cats may require earlier changes if the cartridge blocks.

Write down the date you fit each filter and set a reminder to inspect it. If it needs replacing early, note why. That gives you a useful household routine instead of a drawer full of cartridges and a vague feeling that you changed one recently.

Can you wash and reuse the old filter?

A maintenance rinse is not a new service life. PIXI's manual calls for a filter rinse every three days and says not to use soap. It still specifies replacement. Keep cleaning products and descaling treatments out of cartridges unless their own instructions explicitly permit them.

How to replace the filter

1. Check the new cartridge first. Compare its model reference with the packaging or manual before opening a multipack.
2. Unplug with dry hands. Remove the old cartridge using the fountain's instructions, keeping electrical connectors dry.
3. Prepare the replacement as directed. Cat Mate's manual tells you to rinse its new cartridge under the tap to remove charcoal dust. Follow your particular filter's preparation instructions; there is no single soaking time for every brand.
4. Clean the surrounding parts. A fresh cartridge deserves a clean holder. Follow our fountain cleaning steps for the reservoir and pump.
5. Fit, refill and check. Seat the filter in the correct orientation, assemble the fountain and refill to its specified level. Confirm normal flow after reconnecting power.
6. Record the change. Keep one unopened compatible spare if that helps you replace on time. You do not need to establish a regional distribution centre.

Compare cost per filter, then annual cost

Cost per cartridge = pack price ÷ number of cartridges. Include delivery and check whether the displayed offer requires a subscription. Compare like-for-like filter types; a larger pack is not automatically better value.

For a rough annual budget, multiply that unit cost by the number you expect to use. Replacement every three to four weeks means around 13–18 cartridges across a year; monthly means around 12. Earlier changes increase that total. These are planning estimates, not a reason to keep an exhausted cartridge in service.

At the 6 October Amazon check, the one-time PIXI six-pack was £6.49 and the Cat Mate four-pack was £12.99, both sold and dispatched by Amazon and in stock. Using the unrounded unit price, 13–18 PIXI cartridges cost about £14.06–£19.47; buying three full six-packs costs £19.47. Twelve Cat Mate cartridges cost £38.97, or three four-packs. These replacement-only allowances exclude delivery, starter filters, electricity and earlier changes. Check the live offer and keep subscription discounts separate.

What if water flow is still weak after replacement?

Do not immediately open another cartridge. Check the water level, filter seating and reassembly, then inspect the pump as the manual directs. Our cleaning and descaling guide separates model-specific care from replacement. For a confirmed pump fault, match standard PIXI replacement 44833 or Cat Mate 335 replacement 354; the PIXI Smart pump is a different part.

Keep an ordinary water bowl available while investigating. If the problem persists after the manufacturer's checks, contact support with the fountain model and what you have tried. A new filter cannot repair a damaged pump.