
Drinkwell Platinum Drinking Fountain Review
Drinkwell Platinum is an automatic pet water dispenser that does not need to get connected to a water line so you can put it anywhere in your house. The unit is made with durable plastic that holds 1.3 gallons of water between the water tank and the reservoir. It has a new snap-on-lid to prevent accidental removal and a pre-filter to trap big particles before they get to the motor as well as a replaceable charcoal filter to remove bad tastes and odors.
The Drinkwell Platinum has a new submersible pump that creates a more silent operation and an adjustable control valve that allows you to regulate the water stream for a water flow level that works best for your pet.
Features of Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
- Patented 5-inch free-falling stream
- Capacity: 168 fl. oz total (bowl + reservoir), with rear reservoir over 64 oz
- Comes fully assembled
- Dishwasher safe bowl and reservoir
- 6 ft. power cord with AC adapter (12V low-voltage system)
- Cord tuck feature keeps cables hidden
- Adjustable flow control knob
- Ramp and spout design minimize splashing, noise, and “water braiding”
- Replaceable charcoal filter improves taste and removes odors
- Parts detach easily for cleaning
- BPA-free plastic
- Dimensions & weight: 11” W x 16” D x 10.5” H; 3.2 lbs (1.8 kg)
- Suitability: kittens and adult cats; indoor use in the U.S. only
- Warranty: one year

What Comes in the Box
- 1 x Drinkwell Fountain
- 1 x Reservoir
- 1 x Replaceable charcoal filter
- 1 x Snap-on lid
- 1 x Pre-filter
- 1 x Submersible pump
- 1 x AC Adapter
- User Manual
How it Works
The Drinkwell Platinum has a large rear reservoir that keeps the fountain filled automatically as your cat drinks. Water moves into the pump housing, where a foam pre-filter catches hair and debris before they reach the pump. Inside the housing, a charcoal filter slides into place to help reduce odors and improve taste.
From there, a small submersible pump pushes the filtered water up to the spout at the top, where it flows back down the ramp in a steady stream. You can control the strength of this stream with the flow control knob on the side: turn it toward the 10 o’clock position for a gentle trickle, or toward 2 o’clock for a stronger flow, with plenty of room to fine-tune in between.
This continuous circulation keeps the water fresher and more oxygenated than standing water in a bowl, while the reservoir saves you from constant refills.
Watch Drinkwell Platinum in Action!
PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum – Days Filled per Cat’s Weight
Cat Weight | Oz. Per Day | Drinkwell Platinum (168 Oz.) |
---|---|---|
5 lbs | 5.4 | 31 days |
10 lbs | 10.7 | 16 days |
15 lbs | 16.1 | 10 days |
20 lbs | 21.5 | 8 days |
25 lbs | 26.8 | 6 days |
Intake Water Recommendation per Day: 70 mL per kg (Cat Weight) or 1.074 Oz. per pound. Estimated Days Filled of Drinkwell Platinum: The calculations do not consider external factors, such as water evaporation or spilling and were made based in a single cat water consumption. These numbers consider the maximum level of water intake for each specified cat weight.
Pros And Cons of Drinkwell Platinum Water Fountain
PROS
- Quick and easy to set up, hassle-free start
- Attractive design that blends into the home
- Fairly quiet, but can get noisy when low on water or stream is set high
- Solid, well-made unit that feels durable
- Large 168 oz. capacity (including bowl) means fewer refills
- Encourages cats to drink more, supporting hydration and health
- Long cord allows flexible placement away from outlets
- Charcoal filter improves taste and removes odors so cats drink more
- Pre-filter catches debris before it reaches the motor, extending motor life
- Stable design prevents cats from tipping it over
- BPA-free plastic ensures safer drinking water
CONS
- Still makes some noise despite submersible pump
- Requires full disassembly and deep cleaning weekly (15–20 min)
- Some pieces have hard-to-reach areas that are tough to clean
- Reservoir is tricky to reinsert without spilling
- Filters need frequent replacement
- Filters are not cheap
- Pump noise may scare nervous cats
- Reservoir capacity (64 oz.) is smaller than expected
- Not easy to grab and handle when taking it for cleaning
Tips and Tricks for Better Use of Drinkwell Platinum
- It’s a good idea to refill completely the unit once a week.
- Make sure the waterer is always filled with water, otherwise the motor groans.
- If your tap water is hard, clean weekly with white vinegar and let it sit a few minutes before rinsing.
- On hard floors place a mat to reduce the motor sound.
- To save money of filters and prevent mold formation you can use boiled filtered water.
- You can setup the Drinkwell Platinum with a timer and this way it does not run all night.
- Keep water above the return knob to prevent the pump from overheating.
Conclusion
When it comes to pet water fountains you never know if your cat will love it or it won’t even bother trying it. With that said Drinkwell Platinum is a good automatic cat water fountain that works as advertised and it will make your cat to drink more water, especially for cats that only drink water from dribbling faucets or bathtub spouts.
Though, the Drinkwell Platinum as any other automatic water fountain needs often maintenance. You have to deeply clean the unit once a week (including the motor), change the filters and refill it with fresh water. If you do this, you will have a unit that works good for you and your cat.
Bottom Line
The PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum cat fountain may be a good fit:
- For cats that ignore regular bowls and prefer running water, like faucets or bathtub spouts.
- For owners willing to do a deeper cleaning every week (it has several pieces that are harder to reach, though a cleaning kit helps).
➤Get the PetSafe Drinkwell Cat Water Fountain in Amazon with free shipping ➤ here.
It may not be the best choice:
- If you need a very silent fountain.
- If your pet is prone to chin acne from plastic.
- For nervous or shy cats.
- If you prefer not to spend time on weekend maintenance.
- If you don’t want the added cost of replacement filters.
Note: I put this review together from product specs and owner experiences.
Hi I am thinking about buying this cat water fountain as I feel this would be the best one for my cats, I just wanted to know does this product take a lot of electric when plugged in ? I hope someone can answer my question. Thanks
Hello Melissa, Drinkwell Platinum uses a low voltage 12V transformer.
How can i get a new pump? It is connected to the water flow adjuster and the knob for that just snapped off. How can i get a replacement? Thanks
Hello Robin, yes, you can get a replacement pump. Just go to the following link: h ttps://amzn.to/31vGYXh (the link is broken on purpose so I don’t create a link on the comment section. Just delete the space between the “h” and “t”. Hope that helps!