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Pet ownership can be expensive, with recurring expenses like food, supplies and veterinary care. A rewards credit card can help offset these costs, but finding the right card is tricky since bonus categories typically don’t include everyday pet expenses. Here are some of the better options available to help you earn rewards on Fido’s food.
Comparing the best credit cards for pet owners
While you may have to plan strategically to save on your pet expenses, there are plenty of credit card choices to help defray costs.
Card Name
Best for
Highlights
Bankrate Score
Credit One Bank® Best Friends® Credit Card
Pet stores
5% cash back at pet shops, pet foods, and supply stores for the first $5,000 per calendar year, then 1%
3% cash back in your chosen category (on the first $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter in the choice and grocery/wholesale club category, then 1%)
2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter in the choice and grocery/wholesale club category, then 1%)
4.3
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Selecting specific stores
6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two chosen retailers
3% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in a chosen everyday category
The Credit One Bank® Best Friends® Credit Card is one of the only credit cards that rewards spending at pet stores. You’ll earn an impressive 5 percent cash back on your first $5,000 in pet shop, food and supply store purchases each year (then 1 percent back). You could also earn high rates on grooming, pet boarding and adoptions if an eligible store offers these services. Although some reward cards feature retailers that carry pet supplies, it’s hard to beat this unique card’s rewards rate on specialized pet purchases. This makes the card a great choice if you get most of your pet products and services from a dedicated pet store.
Pros
You’ll get an excellent cash back return on pet expenses for no annual fee.
The Best Friends Animal Society receives a donation of 1 percent cash back on all purchases.
Cons
There is no welcome bonus or intro APR offer to cover significant upfront expenses.
You won’t earn rewards in any other categories, so you’ll need another card for other expenses.
Best for supermarkets
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
The Blue Cash Preferred Card® is one of the best cash back cards for pet purchases at U.S. supermarkets, as you can purchase pet food and other supplies and earn 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent). This card also has several additional categories with solid earning rates to add value to other everyday expenses. If you shop primarily for your pet at U.S. supermarkets, this is an excellent and rewarding choice.
Pros
The card’s U.S. supermarket cash back rate is one of the highest for buying pet food and supplies.
The welcome bonus and intro APR offer can help you pay for significant upfront pet costs like adoption fees or vet bills while potentially saving on interest.
Cons
Wholesale clubs and discount stores like Walmart and Target don’t qualify for the bonus cash back rate.
While the annual fee is waived the first year, you’ll need to make sure you can justify the $95 yearly cost going forward.
Best for wholesale clubs and online shopping
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
The no-annual-fee Bank of America® Customized Cash card lets you choose from a lengthy list of 3 percent cash back categories, including online shopping — ideal if you have a preferred online pet retailer. Bulk store buyers will also get value from this card’s permanent 2 percent back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Wholesale clubs are a rare reward category, so this could be especially helpful for bargain hunters or people with several pets. Earning rates also increase across the board if you have status in the Preferred Rewards program.
Pros
The online shopping category includes popular merchants like Amazon, Walmart.com, and Target.com.
A lengthy intro APR on purchases and balance transfers can help manage significant pet expenses.
Cons
You’ll only earn the top rates in the 2 percent and 3 percent categories on your first $2,500 of combined purchases each quarter (1 percent after that).
Most bonus categories focus on retailers, meaning this card might not help with pet medical or adoption expenses.
Best for selecting specific stores
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® card is a solid choice if you’re a pet owner who needs to fill in gaps in your overall reward earnings and you don’t mind strategic spending. You can earn 6 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in combined eligible purchases per quarter from two retailers you choose from an extensive list. For pet expenses, you can select Chewy.com and any major discount retailer, such as Amazon, Walmart, or Target. You’ll also get 3 percent cash back on a chosen everyday category for up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases. You could select even wholesale clubs to save on pet expenses, which is a rare category.
Pros
A 6 percent earning rate is among the highest available on a rewards card.
This card allows more reward flexibility than the average rewards card.
Cons
The $1,500 spending cap per quarter may not be enough for some pet owners.
This card takes a little more research and planning to maximize rewards compared to other cards.
Best for flat-rate spending
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
If you prefer just one card to handle your expenses, The Wells Fargo Active Cash® may be the best choice. It earns a solid 2 percent on all eligible purchases, meaning it can cover pet expenses that wouldn’t otherwise earn a bonus on other reward cards, like vet bills or adoption costs. The low spending requirement on the welcome offer and lengthy intro APR period also make this an ideal candidate for upfront costs. While you can do better if you shop around, you’ll always earn a reasonable baseline rate with this card.
Pros
You’ll earn the maximum reward rate on all purchases without the need to monitor spending categories.
The welcome bonus is easy to earn and delivers an exceptional low-spending return.
Cons
You can earn more rewards on pet expenses at most merchants with other cards.
The lack of additional bonus categories limits this card’s overall usefulness.
How to choose the best credit cards for pet owners
The best credit card for your needs as a pet owner depends on a few issues you should consider. Here are a few steps for determining which card to choose:
Assess your most significant pet-related expenses. Your pet has unique needs, and which card can earn you the most depends on which eligible stores cater to those needs.
Consider your other expenses. While a card targeted towards your pet’s needs is important, try to find a card that also rewards the other expenses in your budget. For example, earning bonuses at stores like Walmart and Target can cover various needs for both you and your pets.
Assess whether you need financing. If you don’t have the financial flexibility to afford costs like pet adoption or veterinary bills all at once, a solid 0 percent intro APR on purchases can give you time to pay off those expenses without additional interest. If you’re already paying off a balance, a strong intro APR on balance transfers can help consolidate your debt.
How to get additional savings on pet expenses
Even though many cards don’t directly offer bonuses on pet expenses, there are plenty of ways to get additional savings on pet expenses. They require a bit of extra work but can add up to substantial savings.
Discounted gift cards
Many stores offer third-party gift cards to a variety of merchants. You can find these at grocery stores, office supply stores, and discount retailers, to name a few. If they sell gift cards to a merchant where you buy pet supplies, you can buy the gift card and receive the boosted rewards rate (and then use that gift card at the pet store).
Many credit card issuers offer limited-time bonus offers with participating merchants through online shopping portals. You can search for offers by logging in to your account. Once you link the offer to your account you can use your linked card to make your purchase. Depending on the offer, your qualifying purchase will trigger a statement credit or bonus rewards.
Yes, many sellers allow you to make pet purchases with a credit card.
What’s next?
For an idea of what cards are available to you, enter some basic information into CardMatch™, Bankrate’s prequalification tool. And for more insight into what card best fits your rewards needs, our Spender Type Tool can point you in the right direction.
Since pet stores and veterinarians aren’t bonus categories you usually find on a rewards card, you’ll need to be strategic about which card you use and when you use it if you want to earn rewards on pet purchases. The most lucrative options are cards that offer rewards on groceries, online shopping and at other major retailers that may carry pet supplies. However, a card with a lengthy intro APR offer is also a good option if you foresee significant upfront pet costs.
*The information about Credit One Bank® Best Friends® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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Flanigan, R. (2024, May 16). Best credit cards for pet owners. Bankrate. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/best-credit-cards-for-pet-owners/
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Flanigan, Ryan. "Best credit cards for pet owners." Bankrate. 16 May 2024, https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/best-credit-cards-for-pet-owners/.
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Flanigan, Ryan. "Best credit cards for pet owners." Bankrate. May 16, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/best-credit-cards-for-pet-owners/.
