Having a debate with a friend, and figured we'd poll the experts. So its pretty well accepted that, generally speaking, the larger the dog the shorter the life expectancy. Nothing is set in stone, but if you have 1,000 Great Danes and 1,000 Shih Tzus, the latter are likely to live twice as long.
Now cats don't have AS much size variety, but the question is do smaller kitties on average live longer than bigger kitties, so for example if you averaged out Siamese cats would they live longer than big beautiful Maine Coons which can be twice their size?
I was thinking the same rules apply, but have nothing to really back it up, especially when she was showing me that Rag Dolls are the longest lived breed, with a source saying up to 25 years... but I'm wondering if this is more optimistic Rag Doll breeders opinion than a true average.
Thoughts?
Now cats don't have AS much size variety, but the question is do smaller kitties on average live longer than bigger kitties, so for example if you averaged out Siamese cats would they live longer than big beautiful Maine Coons which can be twice their size?
I was thinking the same rules apply, but have nothing to really back it up, especially when she was showing me that Rag Dolls are the longest lived breed, with a source saying up to 25 years... but I'm wondering if this is more optimistic Rag Doll breeders opinion than a true average.
Thoughts?