The life expectancy of pets varies quite a bit, depending not only on the type of animal, but on other factors as well. Here is some information about pet life expectancy.

Each breed of dog has its own life expectancy, with the Irish Wolfhound, Bulldog, and Bernese mountain dog being on the low end, with life expectancy of six years, seven years, and seven years respectively. At the other end of the range are the Belington terrier, miniature Dachshund, miniature poodle, Tibetan terrier, toy poodle, and whippet, topping the list with a 14-year life expectancy.

For cats, the main differential in life expectancy is whether they're indoor or outdoor cats. Outdoor cats generally live to be four or five years of age. They are more likely to catch viruses or to suffer some kind of trauma. Indoor cats, on the other hand, can be expected to live 12 to 18 years.

Birds have a life expectancy of about 10 to 30 years. The parrot family as a whole--including parakeets, African gray parrots, lovebirds, cockatoos, macaws, and cockateels--tends to live longer, with a life expectancy of up to 70 years.

Some very short-lived creatures have become popular as pets. The hybrid of Artemia salina, a species of brine shrimp, sometimes known as fairy shrimp or Sea-Monkeys, can live up to two years. Ant farms, which allow owners to see the tunneling and other activities of ants, may house ants that live for about six months. The creatures with the scientific name Triops longicaudatus, but commonly known as Aquasaurs or tadpole shrimp, are a kind of crustacean often sold along with an aquatic environment, and they may live only 20-29 days.