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Comparison of Animal Ages

by Ron Kurtus (revised 13 September 2011)

Most animals age more rapidly than humans. Just as humans need different nutrition, exercise and health care at the various phases in their lives, so too do your pets need different care as they age. Older animals suffer from the same ailments as elderly people, such as arthritis and loss of hearing and vision.

A comparison of the actual age of the pet and the corresponding of a human can give you a good idea of how to take care of your pet and also to understand its behavior.

Questions you may have include:

What is the life span of various animals?

What are the age phases in a cat?

What are the age phases in a dog?

This lesson will answer those questions. Animal Health Disclaimer

Longevity of various animals

The longevity of various animals ranges from about 193 years to 6 months. Usually, the larger animals live longer than the smaller ones.

Animal Typical Maximum Life span Mammals Elephant 70 years Camel 50 years Donkey 45 years Horse 40 years Lion 35 years Deer 35 years Bull 28 years Pig, wild 25 years Cat 23 years Tiger 22 years Cow 22 years Ox 20 years Wolf 18 years Dog, small 17 years Sheep 15 years Goat 15 years Fox 14 years Dog, large 12 years Rabbit 9 years Mouse 4 years Birds Amazon Parrot 80 years Macaw 50 years Pigeon 26 years Blackbird 18 years Chicken 15 years Reptiles Galapagos Land Tortoise 193 years American Box Turtle 123 years Crocodile 45 years Rattlesnake 22 years Insects Ant, queen 3 years Ant, worker 0.5 year Bee, queen 5 years Bee, worker 1 year

Ages of cats

Ages of Dogs

Summary

Most pets and other animals have a shorter life span that humans. With dogs and cats, a relationship between their age and the equivalent human age has been estimated. As they age, they require different care, as do humans when they age.

Live a long and fruitful life

Resources and references

Ron Kurtus' Credentials

Websites

Pet doctor - animal life span

Pet Health Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Pet Health

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