Why do cats and dogs have such short life spans?

Lifespan in general is determined by trade-offs between survival and reproduction. Wolves, the ancestors of dogs, can live 15-20 years, roughly twice as long as comparable-sized dogs. They start breeding in the wild no younger than 2 years old. read more

Animals with short lifespans such as dogs, cats, rodents, etc, tend to have short gestation periods and give birth to large litters that mature rapidly. The goal is to create a large population quickly, so that the deaths of multiple, less fit individuals do not harm the overall population. read more

To quote few examples, the life span of animals, like the dogs, pigs, hares, wolfs, foxes, tigers, and leopards, which tend to have a high respiratory rate due to their over-indulgent and agile lifestyle, ranges from 5 to 20 years. read more

The average lifespans of cats and dogs depends on a number of variables. In general, cats live longer than dogs. Also, companion animals who are neutered or spayed early on have a longer life expectancy than those who are sterilized later in life or not at all. read more