Pets are a lifetime—the pet's lifetime—commitment that can't be shrugged off when it becomes inconvenient. But many people aren't fully aware of what they've signed up for, as they're unaware of just how long some animals live.
The average lifespan of some popular pets:
- Dogs: 10–14 years, small breeds can live 12–20 years, larger breeds average closer to 6 years
- Cats: 12–20 years
- Rabbits: 8–12 years, small breeds average 12–14 years, larger breeds average 4–6 years
- Guinea Pigs: 4–6 years
- Hamsters: 12–18 months
- Rats/Mice: 1.5–3 years
- Ferrets: 6–9 years
- Chinchillas: 10–12+ years, can live up to 29–30 years with optimal care
- Hedgehogs: 18–24 months
- Birds: 5-80+ years, parrots/macaws average 30–80+ years, smaller birds like budgies and doves live 10–20 years
- Goldfish: 10-30+ years, 10 years in tanks, up to 30+ years in ponds
- Leopard Geckos: 15–20 years
- Bearded Dragons: 5+ years, can live up to 12 years with optimal care
- Horses: 25–30 years
- Snakes: 15-40+ years
- Turtles/Tortoises: 10-150+ years
Anyone unwilling to prioritize another living creature for that animal's full lifespan, which may include making arrangements for a new home for the animal, should stick to inanimate objects or houseplants.
A dog owner turned to the "Am I The A**hole" (AITA) subReddit for feedback over her roommate’s pet cat.
Moist-Awareness6344 asked:
"AITA for refusing to keep my roommate’s 'free' cat after she moved out?"
The original poster (OP) explained:
"I (23, female) live with my roommate, call her Alice (24, female). We’ve been friends for about three years and roommates for almost a year."
"When we moved in together, we agreed that neither of us would get a pet without the other person agreeing first. I already have a 5-year-old rescue dog, and Alice said she was fine with him because she grew up with dogs. The problems started when Alice got a cat. Her coworker told her that someone was giving away a kitten, and Alice came home with a tiny kitten in a cardboard carrier."
"I reminded her about our agreement. She promised she was just fostering; I chose to brush it off since I love cats. But two weeks later, she's named him Cheese and posted pictures of him with captions like 'my son'."
"My dog and the cat actually got along surprisingly well. The problem was that Alice started treating the entire apartment like a cat room. She put the litter box in the living room. She left cat food on the kitchen counters."
"The cat was supposed to live in Alice's room. My dog stays in mine when I'm not home, and she told me Cheese would stay in hers (that never happened, though). We both had individual rooms with a shared living room/kitchen."
"About a month later, Alice started dating a guy (call him Tyler). Tyler apparently hated cats. So whenever he stayed over, she locked Cheese in my bedroom. Not the cat's bedroom. My bedroom. I came home from work one day and found Cheese had torn up a corner of my dog’s bed and peed on my carpeted floor. Alice didn’t care one bit."
"Eventually, a few months later, Alice and Tyler decided to move in together. Alice said she couldn't take Cheese since Tyler's lease didn't allow pets. She said she had arranged for her mom to take him temporarily until they could find a place that allows pets. I was already skeptical since I knew how much Tyler hated Cheese."
"I came home the day Alice moved out, and I found Cheese was still home. I called Alice immediately, and she told me she figured I’d be okay watching him for a few days. She promised she’d come get him in a few days, and I really didn’t feel like fighting for this."
"For three days, I took care of Cheese before I found out from Instagram that Alice and Tyler had gone away to a lake house. That's when I snapped. I told her she had 48 hours to either come get Cheese or arrange for someone else to take him. She said I was threatening to abandon her cat."
"I ended up contacting her mom. Apparently, Alice had told her mom that I had agreed to keep Cheese. I told Alice’s mom exactly what happened and sent screenshots of our messages."
"She apologized for Alice and drove up the next morning to get him, and isn’t letting Alice have her cat until she proves she can be reliable with it. I would've felt even worse taking it to the shelter—I'm just glad her mom was willing to take him."
"Now Alice is telling mutual friends that I 'forced her mother to take away her cat'. I showed them the screenshots, but some of my friends still think I'm overreacting due to the fact I do like the little guy."
"The group is split between whether I’m in the wrong since I do find the little guy super cute and it wouldn’t have been a big burden since he’s a cat, or if I’m justified since Alice basically abandoned her cat and hoped I wouldn’t argue."
"I am starting to feel a bit guilty since I do know how much Alice adored her cat, but I already have my dog and can’t pay and be responsible for another animal."
"AITAH?"
Redditors weighed in using the AITA voting acronyms:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- NAH - No A**holes Here
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
- INFO - more information needed
Redditors decided the OP was not the a**hole (NTA).
"OP, you are NTA for refusing to keep the cat, but here's what I read in your post:"
"Alice broke your prior agreement with her (about pets). You reminded her but also 'chose to brush it off'."
"Alice made the entire apartment the cat's litter box, feeding space, kennel for when Tyler visits (actually using your personal space). You did... nothing."
"Alice's cat damaged your property and room and didn't take any responsibility for it. You did... nothing."
"Alice made up a lame story about what she would arrange for Cheese. You were skeptical, but you did... nothing."
"Alice moved out, leaving Cheese behind. You called her (action!). She gave another lame story. You 'didn't feel like fighting for this' and chose to take care of Cheese for 3 days until you saw that Alice was enjoying the lake with Tyler."
"*** Finally and at long last, you told Alice she had 48 hours to make things right ***"
"Alice didn't take your threat seriously (based on your history, why would she?) and did nothing. Again, you took action and contacted her mother."
"Alice spins her own version of things among your friends. Not sure if you correct her misinformation or not. But I do know, you... now 'feel guilty' because Alice (who locked the cat away for Tyler and abandoned the cat for Tyler) 'adored her cat'."
"Wow. I'd hate to think how she'd have treated cheese if she didn't 'adore' the cat."
"I suggest you worry less about being an AH and more about being easy to walk over." ~ swillshop
"NTA - Alice deceitfully tried to pawn her cat off on you. A cat you didn't even agree to have in the apartment but tolerated for her."
"She isn't a good friend and isn't a good cat mom. You did the right thing to call her mom; that cat wasn't your responsibility. Thank you for not taking it to a shelter!" ~ Anonymous_Sad_Person
"Alice is gonna be real sorry when her and Tyler break up because they moved in together too soon, and she has neither a cat, apartment, nor friend to take her back. NTA." ~ bachimar
"For real she is setting herself up for a massive wake up call, changing her entire life and ditching her cat for a guy she just started dating is such a huge red flag. When this relationship inevitably crashes she is going to realise she burned literally every bridge on her way out." ~ brixvondoruu
"I broke up with my last girlfriend when she asked me to get rid of my cat because she was allergic. Excuse me? I’ve had my little Queen for 9 years and only been dating you for 9 months. Buh bye!." ~ TheBoozyNinja87
"NTA. You just found out that her mother is a way better person than her daughter. That happens. Hope Cheese is getting the love she needs." ~ Nice-Praline-3758
"NTA. She is a bad 'Cat Mom' and a crappy person. She chose her loser boyfriend over her Cat. Lies to her Mom and you, and throws a tantrum when you do not play along." ~ Natural-Pea4404
"She didn’t adore that poor cat at all. If she had, she wouldn’t have dated a guy who hates cats, wouldn’t have moved where she couldn’t have taken the cat, and would have found a proper home for the cat if that was a last resort." ~ wanderingstorm
"Honestly, I hope mum will keep him because I think he would have a good life with her. She obviously cares if she says her daughter will not just get him back without proof she is reliable enough." ~ Crazyandiloveit
OP is being responsible for her dog.
It's unfortunate her roommate didn't do the same when she abandoned a cat she shouldn't have kept.
Pets aren't disposable and shouldn't be abandoned/forced on people who never agreed to keep them.
