Cross Breeds

Why do cats and dogs have a short life span?

I heard because they eat protien all the time and it destoys there liver.

Public Comments

1. Define short life span. Cats can live into their 30's and dogs can live into their 20's. It is largely dependant on the breed, size and overall health of the dog. (Overweight animals, for example, will generally not live as long) Cats and Dogs are carnivores- they are designed to eat protien so I am not really sure what you mean by the question. Diet can certainly affect an animals health and a pet fed on a proper, good quality diet is more likely to live longer- but there are other health and environment factors at play, naturally. Every animal has an 'internal clock' everything ages- and it is natural for pets to live to a shorter age than humans. That is just the way things are. With cats and dogs- the average 'mature pet' is at 7 years- in humans- it is about 60. We are now extending the lives of our pets because we have better knowledge on how to care for them properly, what to feed them, and how to treat medical conditions- just like humans are now living longer. But there are limits to everything- and there is only so much that you can do to ensure that your pets have a longer life.
2. The smaller living things are, the shorter the life span. A bug may only live a few days.[ some how they all manage to bite me ]. Dogs and cats about 12-20 yrs. People about 70+ yrs and elephants can have a longer lifespan than humans. http://www.fun.chanun.com/info/the-life-span-of-animals-how-long-do-animals-live
3. depends on the size and how healthy you are... usually animals have to actually find food and work hard while we just go to the store and are lazier we have a easier life they actually have to work 4 theirs.
4. There is this observed correlation called "The Million Heartbeat Rule" which shows that the typical lifespan of mammals is approximately the amount of time for an organism of whatever species to have had a million heartbeats. Dogs and cats have smaller bodies, requiring higher metabolic rates, requiring more heartbeats per unit time meaning a shorter lifespan.
5. Because that is the way God made them and that is the way mother nature works in the animal kingdom. They should eat protein since they are designed by nature to be meat eaters. No, it doesn't destroy their liver. I have had lots of dogs and cats. Not a single one of them every died from liver failure.