How Long Different Pets Live
When choosing a pet, we try to take many nuances into account. And one of them is the lifespan of the future pet. Some of them live extremely short lives, others, on the contrary, live long. The owner needs to understand how long their new friend is going to stay with them.
With 5-Minute Crafts, you are going to learn how long different pets live.
Dogs
Dogs are one of the most popular and faithful types of pets, and they live quite a long life compared to other pets.
Dogs’ lifespans differ depending on the breed. For example, a Labrador lives around 11 years, while a Yorkshire Terrier might live to the age of 20. It is thought that small breeds live much longer than large ones.
- Small breeds. The average life expectancy of small breeds is 10-15 years, some live for 18 years and more. For example, Chihuahuas can live for 15-17 years on average.
- Medium breeds. As a rule, medium-sized dogs live for around 10-13 years, some live even longer. For example, Chow Chows live for about 11-13 years.
- Large breeds. Large dogs usually live to the age of around 10-12. For example, Rottweilers live for 10-12 years on average.
- Giant breeds. The largest dogs live least of all — 8-10 years on average. For example, the average lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is 8-10 years.
Cats
Cats are as loved and as popular as dogs. Their average lifespan is around 13-17 years. Of course, the numbers change depending on their breed, how well taken care of they are, and their lifestyle.
The longest-living breeds are:
- Balinese — 18–22 years
- Bombay — 15–20 years
- European Shorthair — 15–22 years
- Siamese — 15–20 years
It is believed that street cats live shorter lives than home cats.
Hamsters and rats
Hamsters are incredibly cute creatures that are easy to take care of. Unfortunately, these pets don’t live long.
An average lifespan of a hamster is 1.5-3 years. Syrian hamsters often live longer than dwarf breeds. Any hamster at the age of 1-1.5 years is considered elderly.
Pet rats are smart and interesting animals. Unfortunately, they live short lives, just like hamsters — around 1.5-3 years.
Guinea pigs
Compared to other small pets, guinea pigs live long lives. Their average life expectancy is 5–8 years. Some of them can even live for up to 10 years.
It is believed that a guinea pig’s lifespan depends on its size. Larger species tend to live longer than smaller ones.
Rabbits
Rabbits make great pets too. They are active animals that need to be well-monitored, especially during walks.
There are many different rabbit breeds, and the average lifespan of these animals is 8-12 years.
- In general, larger rabbit breeds live shorter lives than dwarf ones.
- Mixed breeds generally live longer than purebreds.
Parrots
Many people get parrots as pets. And it’s no surprise why — these are smart and interesting birds with long lifespans.
The average life expectancy of parrots differs depending on their type.
- Parakeets Some live for 5 years on average, others can live to be 18 years old.
- Lovebirds live from 10 to 25 years.
- Cockatiels live for 5-18 years on average.
- Canaries live up to 10 years.
- Cockatoos Depending on their type, they can live from 20 to 60 years.
- African greys live to be 40-60 years old, some of them can live even longer.
- Amazon parrots live from 25 to 75 years.
- Macaw A large Macaw parrot can live from 50 to 75 years.
- The Hahn’s or mini-Macaw lives typically up to 30 years.
Fish
An aquarium with fish will be a wonderful addition to your interior and will bring new colors to your life. Fish don’t interact with their owners as closely as other animals, but they are very interesting to watch.
- Most tropical fish live for 3-5 years on average.
- Goldfish can live up to 20 years.
- Koi, relatives of goldfish, can sometimes have a pretty long life — up to 40 years.
Turtles
Some people get turtles as pets. They boast a fairly long lifespan. However, the lifespan of your turtle will depend on its species, diet, and living conditions.
It is believed that if a turtle survives the first couple of years, it will live for several more decades.
How long different turtles live:
- Red-Eared Slider — 25–35 years
- Map Turtle — 15–25 years
- Wood Turtle — 40–55 years
- Eastern Box Turtle — 50+ years
- Painted Turtle — 25–30 years
- Greek Tortoise — 100+ years
- Leopard Tortoise — 100+ years
Snails
Recently, snails have become more popular as pets. It’s no surprise because they are quiet, small, and very easy to take care of.
There are almost 43,000 types of snails, including freshwater snails, land snails, and sea snails. They all differ in habitat and lifespan.
Geckos
Geckos are the most popular reptiles that people get as pets. Their lifespan depends on their type, gender, and living conditions.
The most popular geckos that are kept at home live for 10-20 years on average.
- Leopard geckos — 10–20 years
- Crested geckos — 10 to 20 years
- Fat-tailed geckos — 10–20 years
- Day geckos — up to 15 years
- Gargoyle geckos — 15–20 years
- Tokay geckos — 7–10 years