We love our pets, and we would love it if they could live for as long as we do and grow old with us. But the sad reality is that they don’t. However, some animals live long past their life expectancies to create great memories. Let’s see what the average ages are of some types of pets, and who the various record holders are for being the oldest.
Cats
The average lifespan of cats is between 13 and 15 years. It’s possible for cats to reach the 20-year mark and some might even live for as long as 25 years. The oldest cat ever was Crème Puff from the US, who was over 38 years old.
Dogs
On average, smaller breed dogs tend to have longer life expectancies than larger breed dogs. Small breed dogs tend to live for between 14 and 16 years, while large breed dogs generally live for between 10 and 12 years. The oldest dog ever was Bobi from Portugal, who was over 31 years old.
Bunnies
Generally, bunnies live for between eight and 12 years. The oldest domestic rabbit was Flopsy from Australia, who was almost 19 years old.
Rats
Normally, pet rats live for between two and four years. The oldest domestic rat was Rodney from the US, who was seven years old.
Guinea pigs
Owners of guinea pigs can usually expect their pets to live for between five and seven years. The oldest guinea pig ever was Snowball from the UK, who was 14 years old.
Fish
The average lifespan of pet fish is between three and five years, with some fish, like goldfish, reaching 20 years of age. The oldest goldfish ever was Tish from the UK, who was 43 years old!
Birds
The average age of birds really depends on the breed. On average, cockatiels live for 16 years, while African greys usually live for between 40 and 60 years. The oldest cockatiel is Carol Gomez-Citron from the US, who is 31 years old and is still alive at the time of going to press.
Bearded dragons
Bearded dragons tend to live for between eight and 10 years. The oldest bearded dragon was Sebastian from the UK, who was 18 years old.
Source: www.guinnessworldrecords.com
