There is a common saying that a pet might only be here for a part of your life, but for them, you are their whole life. Having a pet is like having a friend, a companion, or even a bonus family member. However, they can be a lot of work; things like vet appointments, pet insurance [1], and groomers visits can add up over time. Moreover, a lot of pets require your time and attention daily. This is why it is really important to consider a pet's lifespan before choosing to bring them into your life — it is often an overlooked factor when people select their pet. We have rounded up a list of common pets with their lifespans from the shortest to longest. Keep reading to learn more.
Hamster
The average lifespan of a hamster is 2 to 3 years [3]. Factors like species, diet, exercise, and quality of care directly contribute to a hamster's lifespan.
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs live for 4 to 7 years [4] on average. They need to be well-kept as common infections can be deadly — especially respiratory illnesses.
Goldfish
When kept in a healthy environment, goldfish can live for 5 to 10 years [5]. It is important that they swim in fresh waters as they can react badly after a change in the chlorine levels or heavy metals in the water.
Parrot
Budgies and parakeets are a common species of parrots that people have as pets. On average, these species live for 5 to 15 years [6].
Dog
On average, dogs live for 7 to 14 years [7]. There are a lot of factors when it comes to determine a dog's lifespan like breed because some breeds are more prone to disease than others.
Rabbit
Rabbits or bunnies live for 8 to 14 years [8] on average. They are prone to unique problems like overgrown teeth and loss of appetite over the years.
Cat
Indoor-only cats have an average lifespan of 10 to 20 years [9]. On the other hand, cats that only live outdoors have an average lifespan of 2 to 5 years. Keeping cats indoors can actually increase their lifespan as they are less likely to encounter predators or toxins.
Turtle
Turtles or tortoises can live for 40 to 50 years [10] as they have a very slow metabolism. However, often in captivity they do not get sufficient care in order to live full lives.