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.
Top credit cards for pet owners
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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, pet 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 rewards 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.
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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.
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The no-annual-fee Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card is the only card to offer pet insurance as a card benefit. Since pet insurance can get quite expensive, this can be a terrific perk. It also offers 3X points on pet-related purchases (including at the vet), and 1X points on all other purchases. However, the card’s pet insurance only covers one pet and may need to be tailored to meet your needs for an extra cost. Plus, it doesn’t offer bonus rewards on any other categories, so it’s best to pair this card with another rewards card so you don’t miss out on earnings.
Learn more: Is the Nibbles Card worth it?
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Pros
- If you are on the fence about pet insurance, you can take advantage of this perk without worrying about an annual fee to offset.
- The card offers an automated claims service that makes processing claims less hassle.
Cons
- The basic pet insurance that comes with this card lacks some routine coverage, so you’ll have to pay to customize your insurance.
- The rewards category is pet-focused, so it’s not a great everyday rewards card.
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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express 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.
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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.
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The no-annual-fee Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit 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 rewards 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.
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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
- Your earnings are limited since 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.
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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 rewards earnings plus 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 even select wholesale clubs to save on pet expenses, which is a rare category.
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Pros
- A 6 percent earning rate is among the highest available on a rewards card.
- This card allows more rewards 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.
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 | Annual fee | Recommended credit score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit One Bank® Best Friends® Credit Card* | Pet stores |
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None | Average to excellent |
| Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card | Pet insurance |
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No Annual Fee | 670-850 |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Supermarkets |
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$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | Good to Excellent |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Wholesale clubs and online shopping |
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$0 | 670-850 |
| U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card* | Selecting specific stores |
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$0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, then $95 | N/A |
The best cards for pet owners typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for best unsecured cards for bad credit.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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).
Shopping portals
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.
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.
The bottom line
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.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, many sellers allow you to make pet purchases with a credit card.
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Yes. Currently, the only card to offer pet insurance is the Nibbles card.
*The information about Credit One Bank® Best Friends® Credit Card and the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on August 27, 2025.
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