These 3 Credit Cards Could Be a Pet Owner's Best Friend
KEY POINTS
- The Prime Visa earns 5% back on Amazon purchases, and cash rewards can be redeemed the very next day.
- The new Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card has a pet-specific bonus category.
- The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the best flat-rate cards out there.
I've got a reputation as a cat lady, and I don't mind that one bit. I work hard every day to give my three cats a better life. I even just bought a house, in part to benefit them and their happiness. I'm not alone in my devotion to my pets, and with good reason -- having pets can be great for us humans. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the benefits of pet ownership include stress relief, getting to maintain a routine, and having more opportunities to get regular exercise.
All these perks (not to mention the joy of teaching a cat to "speak" for treats) sure aren't free, though. My cats' needs are a significant part of my budget, as I'm responsible for feeding them, keeping them entertained, and ensuring their health needs are met. So I'm always looking for ways to defray my costs -- luckily, I've got a few credit cards that help. Here are three card options to lean on for pet care expenses.
1. The best card for Amazon buys
A lot has changed since Amazon's initial days as an online bookstore. Now you can buy just about anything there. If you spend a lot, this first credit card will absolutely be an asset. You have to be a Prime member (which costs $139 a year) to get the Prime Visa. But otherwise, this card has no annual fee and pays 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. Plus, unlike a lot of cash back credit cards, your rewards are available to use the next day -- there's no waiting until the statement period ends to cash in.
I buy the occasional bag of cat food from Amazon, along with a regular supply of engaging wand toys needed to keep my youngest cat from destroying my home with his chaos energy. Getting 5% back on those buys just sweetens the deal.
2. A solid flat-rate card to fill in the gaps -- and perhaps cover vet bills
A good flat-rate credit card is a solid option for just about anybody. It works whether you want to keep a one-card wallet or have the option to earn a little more back on purchases that don't conform to a common bonus category. My own favorite flat-rate rewards card that also comes with a few bonus categories is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It earns at least 1.5% back on all spending (with higher rates on dining, travel, and at drugstores). This card could be a good way to cover your pet's vet bills and earn rewards in the process. While it's always advisable to pay down your credit card balance each month, the card's solid intro APR offer can help if you have any unexpected vet costs that you can't pay directly.
I've also got the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This means I can transfer earnings from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® in the form of Ultimate Rewards points and use those points to book travel. My cats would probably prefer it if I never took a vacation, but sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. Luckily I've got a great pet sitter to take care of them when I'm away.
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
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A cash back card that has it all with unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates and an excellent 0% intro APR offer. There's also an innovative sign-up bonus worth up to $300 cash back. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the bonus, you’ll still earn the regular cash back rates on every purchase. Read Full Review
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- Innovative sign-up bonus
- Purchase and travel protections
- Robust rewards program
- Great intro APR
- No annual fee
- Limited bonus opportunities on everyday spending
- Foreign transaction fee
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- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
3. A lifestyle card with pet supplies as a bonus category
This next card is a brand-new addition to my wallet. When my colleague Brittney Myers wrote about the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card recently, I knew I had to have it. This "lifestyle" credit card offers cardholders the chance to earn 4% cash rewards in a broader range of bonus categories than you'll find with most other cards.
One of the 4% bonus categories is Pet Care. Wells Fargo notes that the qualifying merchant categories include Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores, along with Other Miscellaneous Services. On the day I got this card, I used it in Petsmart to buy food for my senior cat as well as a few bags of cat litter. I'll be getting 4% back on the $66 I spent. That may only be $2.64, but every little bit helps. Especially as I plan to redeem my cash rewards as statement credits to lower the cost of future credit card bills.
I love my cats, but caring for them sure can get expensive. Thankfully, rewards credit cards can help. Consider the above options if you're looking for a way to earn cash back or other rewards on your pet spending.
Our Research Expert
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