Best Credit Card for Petco in 2026
Petco is classified under MCC 5995 (Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores). The best card for Petco purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on pet shops, pet foods, and supplies stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
Petco is a great place for pet lovers to spend money on essentials like food and toys. Credit cards that offer rewards in the travel or rotating categories often cover this MCC.
Consider signing up for the Chase Freedom Flex card if it rotates its bonus categories to Petco, as this can bump your rewards rate to 5%.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Petco, a flat 2% cash back card would earn you $4 each month ($48 annually) compared to just $2 per month ($24 yearly) with a basic 1% card.
Petco purchases are classified under MCC 5995 (Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores).
MCC Details for Petco
Best Credit Cards for Petco (2026)
How Petco Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Petco at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5995 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a pet shops, pet foods, and supplies stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "pet shops, pet foods, and supplies stores" purchases, Petco transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Petco specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Petco transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5995 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Petco
About MCC 5995: Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores
Merchant Category Code 5995 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5995, all qualifying card programs that include pet shops, pet foods, and supplies stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores merchants: Pet Supplies Plus, PetSmart.
What You Could Earn at Petco
Spending $200/month at Petco with the Active Cash (2x on pet shops, pet foods, and supplies stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Petco merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.