Да есть решение. Даже анимацию можно запилить для него без всякой лабуды в виде дополнительных плагинов.
::-webkit-input-placeholder {color:#feb500;}
::-moz-placeholder {color:#feb500;}/* Firefox 19+ */
:-moz-placeholder {color:#feb500;}/* Firefox 18- */
:-ms-input-placeholder {color:#feb500;}
input::-webkit-input-placeholder {text-indent: 0px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input::-moz-placeholder {text-indent: 0px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:-moz-placeholder {text-indent: 0px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:-ms-input-placeholder {text-indent: 0px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:focus::-webkit-input-placeholder {text-indent: 500px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:focus::-moz-placeholder {text-indent: 500px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:focus:-moz-placeholder {text-indent: 500px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}
input:focus:-ms-input-placeholder {text-indent: 500px; transition: text-indent 0.3s ease;}