Not that anybody cares, but here's a list of how long some animals are supposed to live. One thinks of such things from time to time, thoughts like "If this cat dies, maybe then I can get another, better one." Now that I see the average life span for a cat is 25 years, I guess I must learn to table these thoughts for a while. Also, since this is my first time living with exotic birds, I am fascinated by the fact that they can live for much longer than seem necessary. In cockatiel years, I should already be dead, but if I was a bird I bet I would have packed a lotta living into those years. But since I have another 30-40 years to fool around with, I feel no need to rush.

I excerpted the full list to just some animals that caught my eye. I think it's amazing that a Great Horned Owl can live to be 68. Of course, hamsters and gerbils again prove their merit as children's pets since they only live 4 or 5 years. But any of the larger birds seem to live forever. Even the lobster rates pretty high on the list. Poor little fella, I can picture it living 48 years only to have its last two years snuffed out when it gets thrown in a pot of boiling water.

African Grey Parrot 50
Cat 25
Chinchilla 20
Cockatiel 32
Conure 25
Dog 22
Domestic Pigeon 26
Gerbil 5
Golden Hamster 4
Great Horned Owl 68
Guinea Pig 8
House Mouse 4
Human 70-80
Lobster 15 (they can live into their 50's!)
Macaw 50
Parrot 80
Pigeon 11
Pionus Parrot 15
Rabbit 9
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo 40
Superb Parrot 36