Drinkwell: Original vs Platinum

So I read a bunch of water fountain threads but could I just get a quick polling on whether there is a real benefit to the Drinkwell Platinum version over the Original? Is it that much better for the kitties? Those of you who have experience with both, do your kitties like it better? Or is it that much easier to upkeep/clean, that much quieter? Anything else? Some big downside compared to Original that it addressed?


Thank you very much.

I have only used the original ones. One broke and the other would still work if we didn't break it while moving. I originally wanted the platinum one but it was a lot larger than the original ones and I didn't like that. My cats really like the original one.

I would recommend the platinum one if you want a bigger fountain but other than that, I don't know if there is any real difference.

I have the original and it's great...only thing was that it came with the resovouir (sp ) and it never worked right...always leaked. So we just don't use it. But the Platnium looks to have a better one if you care about that feature. But we have 3 kitties and I only fill it like every other day...so it's a lot of water without the add on. I fill it way up to the brim.

We have used both the original and platinum and much prefer the Platinum.
1. The reservoir locks in place to it doesn't shift when moved or when the cats scramble over it.
2.Better filter
3. Larger reservoir.
4. Lid locks in place and covers the spout. With the orginal our one mama cat, Mellow, would drink from the very top of the spout and would knock lid off. Then Sterling, our 20+ lb male, would steal the filter (he is obsessed with the filters in both our fountains and will run off with them if he can).
5. Much easier to clean. The new design has fewer nooks and crannies and is much simplified.
6. Has a "pre-filter" that keeps the bits of food and other debris from getting in the pump.

We have had two of the originals and both of them broke. We have not had one problem with the platinum. We also have a Petmate Freshflow..some of our cats prefer the free falling stream of the Drinkwell and others like the ramp of the Petmate. Mellow will drink from both.

Originally Posted by ladycatsinger

We have used both the original and platinum and much prefer the Platinum.
1. The reservoir locks in place to it doesn't shift when moved or when the cats scramble over it.
2.Better filter
3. Larger reservoir.
4. Lid locks in place and covers the spout. With the orginal our one mama cat, Mellow, would drink from the very top of the spout and would knock lid off. Then Sterling, our 20+ lb male, would steal the filter (he is obsessed with the filters in both our fountains and will run off with them if he can).
5. Much easier to clean. The new design has fewer nooks and crannies and is much simplified.
6. Has a "pre-filter" that keeps the bits of food and other debris from getting in the pump.

We have had two of the originals and both of them broke. We have not had one problem with the platinum. We also have a Petmate Freshflow..some of our cats prefer the free falling stream of the Drinkwell and others like the ramp of the Petmate. Mellow will drink from both.

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Chloe LOVES the filters! Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to get them out of the fountain. She only gets them when I accidentally leave one out.

I bought one of the original ones and turned it off after just a few minutes cuz it was so noisy! I was used to the PetMate was is virtually silent. I'm told the Platinum is much quieter.

Is a fountain really even necessary? I have a water bowl that I change everyday. And I let her drink from the faucet when I get home from work.

I have the original Drinkwell and have had no problems with it. It's not noisy to me, i've had no problems cleaning it. The cats do seem to drink more water with it than the regular bowl. Kairi likes to drink from the spout where the water is coming out from.

Originally Posted by ~*Regina*~

Is a fountain really even necessary? I have a water bowl that I change everyday. And I let her drink from the faucet when I get home from work.

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IMO it's not. Normal cats in regular households should get by with a run-of-the-mill water cup that gets freshened up. Fountains are luxury items for most.

There are some specific reasons to consider fountains, like drinking habits/preferences. I started considering one when one of our cats has obviously gotten lazy with his drinking, and as a result seems to have become more prone to constipation. He used to be a big drinker, now I rarely see him at the bowl. I want to trick him to drink more as this simple thing seems to help it.

He already enjoys drinking from the simple PetMate Bistro. He loves the gurgles the container makes, and stays a lot longer at it looking for the bubbles and sipping some extra. Unfortunate thing is he likes to play with that thing too - and with his brother he has figured out how to knock the darned thing around so that kitchen floor now becomes a pool every time I set the Bistro up!!

I thought that maybe Drinkwell would be more stable. I would be interested in hearing if anyone's cats have been bowling with their Drinkwells!!! Does anyone have any 'behavioral issues' with fountains? Like kitties just monkeying around with it and not actually using it for its intended purpose?

I got a Drinkwell Platinum three weeks ago. When Slasher and Ripper first saw it, Slasher (the troublemaker) played with it a little, dipping his paw into the bowl and water stream, which splashed some water on the floor. Since the fountain is in a bathroom, it wasn't a big problem.

They quickly got used to the fountain, and I frequently see them drinking from it. Slasher prefers to drink from the bowl, while Ripper prefers to drink from the stream.

I haven't seen any water spilled lately.

I was concerned that they might play with the electrical cord, but they haven't taken an interest in that.

One thing I don't like about this fountain is that you have to remove the reservoir to add water. It would be nice if the reservoir had an opening on the top for adding water. But that's only a minor inconvenience.

Well I splurged for the Platinum 2 days ago and set it up for the boys. It was easy enough to install, and my 3 furbies were getting increasingly curious as they heard the bubbles and snortles when I filled it up.

Once the fountain was down on the floor everybody checked it out right away. Ossi was my number one target for the fountain because of his constipation issues, and I was hoping that our little anorexic Kille-Poika would take a liking to it too. However, it was of course Teppo – the one who drinks a lot anyway – who confidently strutted to the fountain, and after a few seconds hesitation put his nose to the stream as if saying: “I’ve seen these before”. He was not very impressed because his ear got wet but has since kept going back for brief sipping sessions on regular basis.

Ossi, our most cautious one, dropped his butt into wary position and circled the fountain but did not dare to drink at first. I have not seen him manage to get much water into his mouth but he has been seen hovering around the fountain when witnesses aren’t around.

Kille again is the one most interested in the gadget. He has to keep on going back to it, and whether or not he is drinking much he is trying to snatch the stream with his paws or mouth – and he can just sit next to the fountain staring at it for ages. Kille has been exceptionally energetic for these last two days so I think he must have been getting an extra dose of liquid in. There has also been a couple of watery pukes in the foyer – as if someone has gone a little overboard and had to regurgitate a bit.

So I am somewhat optimistic. Nobody has wrestled the fountain, nobody is sitting in the bowl, and at least one of the kitties that should be drinking more is drinking more. I am hoping to see more evidence that Ossi actually drinks rather than entertains himself around the fountain too. He usually is slowest with new things because he is such a nerd, so hopefully couple of more days will get him there.

Originally Posted by ladycatsinger

We have used both the original and platinum and much prefer the Platinum.
1. The reservoir locks in place to it doesn't shift when moved or when the cats scramble over it.
2.Better filter
3. Larger reservoir.
4. Lid locks in place and covers the spout. With the orginal our one mama cat, Mellow, would drink from the very top of the spout and would knock lid off. Then Sterling, our 20+ lb male, would steal the filter (he is obsessed with the filters in both our fountains and will run off with them if he can).
5. Much easier to clean. The new design has fewer nooks and crannies and is much simplified.
6. Has a "pre-filter" that keeps the bits of food and other debris from getting in the pump.

We have had two of the originals and both of them broke. We have not had one problem with the platinum. We also have a Petmate Freshflow..some of our cats prefer the free falling stream of the Drinkwell and others like the ramp of the Petmate. Mellow will drink from both.

Click to expand...

I agree on all counts regarding the Platinum! We've been through four of the original, and the Platinum is excellent! My girlies love it!

I think a question one has to ask is - why is the Original still on the market if the Platinum pretty much has it beat? There isn't even a price difference when one adds the reservoir the the Original. All the shops I looked still had both models.