Longest-Living Pets You Can Basically Keep Forever

Dogs are amazing, but the longest-living pets stick around for up to 10 times as long.

The Longest Living Pets You Can Keep

The list of things to consider before bringing home a new pet is long. How much space does it take up? How much does it cost to care for? Do you have time to give it the attention it needs? And, also, how long does it live?

The longest-living pets come with pros and cons. The downside is that you're committing to caring for an animal for years. Maybe even decades. The upside? Well, same thing. You'll have a pet that ages right by your side. These 15 animals are among the longest-living critters you can keep as a pet.

14. Bearded Dragons (Tie)

Potential lifespan: 15 years

Bearded dragons are an excellent choice for a low-maintenance pet that lives for years. They're easier to handle than most lizards, and happily hang out with their owners in the way a pet rat or guinea pig might. Their enclosure setup is also pretty simple. They need a heat lamp on one side, plus a UV bulb and a hygrometer to make sure the humidity doesn't get too high.

The dealbreaker for some potential pet parents is that they need to eat live insects daily. They can also eat fresh veggies, but crickets are non-negotiable. That means frequent trips to the pet store for the duration of your beardie's life. Other than that, they're pretty easy to own.

14. Cats (Tie)

Potential lifespan: 15 years

The humble house cat has an impressively long lifespan. Some breeds routinely live into their teens, and the oldest cat on record is 27 years old. Cats require more attention than most small pets, but they're more self-sufficient than dogs by a landslide.

They usually groom themselves and rarely need baths, and they won't develop separation anxiety while you're at work. Just be prepared to clean a litter box or two, and be aware that scratched-up furniture is a distinct possibility.

13. Miniature Poodles

Miniature red poodle puppy on sheepskin with turquoise cushions

Potential lifespan: 18 years

Mini poodles are one of America's favorite dog breeds, and for good reason. The petite pooches have all the personality of a bigger dog, just in a tiny, apartment-friendly package. Poodles are among the smartest, long-living pets around. They're also the most work, requiring daily walks, monthly grooming and plenty of love and attention to keep them happy.

Dogs aren't usually the longest-living pets, but several small dog breeds are known for living into their teens. Mini poodles are one of them, and owners can expect to enjoy around a decade and a half with their curly companion.

10. Chihuahuas (Tie)

Elderly chihuahua dog standing in a soft den

Potential lifespan: 20 years

The other longest-living dog breed is the spunky little Chihuahua. Sure, the oldest dogs ever recorded are mostly larger herding breeds, but small breeds live longer on average. Chihuahuas often live into their teens, and one Chihuahua mix lived until 23.

Chihuahuas have buckets of character, for better or worse. They tend to be feisty and outgoing, loyal and like velcro. They're small enough to take with you everywhere, and that's a plus since they won't want to leave your side.

10. Geckos (Tie)

Gecko lizard on a branch in tropical garden

Potential lifespan: 20 years

Geckos, particularly leopard geckos, tend to live for years and years, and they don't change visibly as they age. They're hardy and easy to care for, and 13 to 20 years is an average lifespan for these colorful reptiles. and one leopard gecko lived until the ripe old age of 28.

Bearded dragons are the easiest pet lizard to handle, but leopard geckos are a close second. They're tons of fun to watch and require minimal care, so it's not as serious of a commitment as bringing home a dog or cat. Leopard geckos can develop vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, so giving them a UVB lamp to bask under, plus vitamin supplements, is a must. Like most lizards, they primarily eat insects, so prepare to have a box of bugs around the house to keep them happy.

10. Ringed Turtle Doves (Tie)

Potential lifespan: 20 years

Several bird species, including the ringed turtle dove, are known for their longevity. These doves are one of the top caged birds in the world, and they're not great at surviving in the wild. Instead, they need to be cared for by their owners.

This means covering their cage at night, uncovering it in the morning, giving them fresh food and water, and keeping the enclosure clean. They're not too difficult to care for, but they can be smelly if you don't clean their cage often enough. That said, they aren't fond of being held. Expect to mostly look at them through the bars of their cage because they're unlikely to want to hop onto your hand to snuggle.

9. Horses

Cute Shetland pony eating hay in horse paddock

Potential lifespan: 30 years

Horses are incredibly cool pets, and they're also the most high-maintenance. For one, they're huge. They weigh hundreds of pounds and live for decades, and it costs about $5,000 a year to care for them properly. That figure varies depending on whether you have your own barn and pasture or if you have to board your horse in a stable. Either way, they're not cheap.

They require even more veterinary attention than dogs and cats, getting their hooves trimmed by a trained farrier, their teeth filed down and annual vaccinations, and that's not a comprehensive list. Still, you can ride them, and for horse lovers, that's totally worth the expense and commitment.

8. Box Turtles

Potential lifespan: 35 years

Box turtles are an acquired taste. They're more of an ornamental pet that does little but eat, poop and bask in the sun, but if that's your thing, a box turtle makes a great pet. They don't enjoy being handled, but that's probably a good thing, as they often carry salmonella. Handwashing after handling them or cleaning their enclosure is a must.

They prefer to live outside in a pen or in a large terrarium of at least 40 gallons. If temps are allowed to dip, they're likely to hibernate. As long as they're well fed and in good health, they'll wake up again when the weather warms.

5. Goldfish (Tie)

Potential lifespan: 40 years

The classic goldfish has a reputation for dying in a matter of days after winning one at the county fair. That's no fault of the fish, however. Goldfish require more specific care than most people realize, and a small bowl isn't a suitable habitat. While goldfish are cold-water fish, content at temperatures between 68 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit, they still need a filter to keep their water clean.

All aquariums should be properly cycled before adding fish, but once that's out of the way, the tank should only need weekly maintenance. Some species of goldfish grow much larger than a tiny tank or bowl allows, and keeping them in cramped quarters will drastically reduce their lifespan. Give them a 30-gallon aquarium or an outdoor pond, and they might live for decades.

5. Koi Fish (Tie)

Potential lifespan: 40 years

Koi fish are like goldfish on steroids. They're beautiful, but don't even think about getting a koi fish unless you have an outdoor pond to keep them. They can grow up to 3 feet long and live over 30 years, but they require 250 gallons or more to thrive. Ideally, their pond should be heavily planted.

A beautiful koi pond can be the centerpiece of your backyard, brightening it with vibrant shades of orange and gold. Koi prefer to live in schools of at least five, but large ponds can hold many more. Once established, ponds can actually be lower maintenance than indoor fish tanks. They're a major investment, but koi can live for decades with the right care. They tend to live longer in areas that match the climate of their native habitat in Japan, which allows them to slow down their metabolism and fall into hibernation each winter.

5. Snakes (Tie)

Closeup shot of a ball python (Python regius) on a green leaf

Potential lifespan: 40 years

Not every snake species lives for 30-plus years, but a few of the most popular species do. Ball pythons and boa constrictors both live for at least 20 years. If they're kept in ideal conditions and aren't overfed, they can live much longer. Ball pythons are the more beginner-friendly of the two. They're easily kept in plastic tubs or terrariums, they're easy to handle, and they don't even require attention.

They only need to be fed every couple of weeks once they're full-grown, and a complete cleaning of their enclosure can be done monthly. So, what's the catch? Ball pythons and almost all other pet snakes eat mice or rats. Fortunately, you can buy them frozen, thawing them out before feeding them. No need to witness a bi-monthly mouse murder.

4. Parrots

Potential lifespan: 50 years

Many birds are known for their remarkable lifespans. There are more than 350 species of parrot species to pick from, but the African grey parrot is a top choice. They're beautiful birds, but they need lots of variety in their diets. In addition to pellets, they need daily access to fresh fruits, veggies and seeds, plus a calcium supplement.

They need a large cage and lots of attention. This means giving them time daily out of their cage for the duration of their life, which is double that of even the most elderly poodle. For avid bird keepers, the time is worth it. They're intelligent, with about the same mental capacity of a 5-year-old.

3. Macaws

Potential lifespan: 60 years

Bird people either love or hate macaws. Everything about them is large, including their attitudes and voices. They call loudly to get their owner's attention — and they adore attention. They're playful and will chew up toys on a weekly basis. They need foraging activities to keep them busy, too.

Their loud squawks make macaws a poor choice for apartment living, and they take up a good deal of time and space. They can learn to talk, but whether or not that's a good thing is a matter of opinion. Bringing home a macaw is akin to bringing home a toddler that never grows up, even after four or five decades. At least they don't need a college fund.

2. Umbrella Cockatoos

Potential lifespan: 80 years

If you're going to buy a bird, an umbrella cockatoo is arguably the coolest. They're not quite as giant as macaws, but they have just as much personality. They're sweet-natured and extremely affectionate with their owners. Living with one is like living with a feathery comedian. They can be taught to do tricks, and enrichment time should be part of their daily care.

This is not a species that can be kept in a cage just to look at. They're meant to be spoiled and doted on, and they'll get depressed if they're neglected. They also need a large enclosure and at least two hours out of their cage each day. While most cockatoos only live around 40 to 60 years, that's long enough to include a care plan for them in your will, which is really saying something.

1. Tortoise

Potential lifespan: 100 years

Tortoises take the cake as the longest-living pet you can own. The sulcata tortoise is one of the largest species, weighing up to 150 pounds. Keeping one is like keeping a slow-moving dinosaur in the yard. They're docile creatures that spend their days munching on grass, hay and greens.

Tortoises are cheap to acquire and not too pricy or high maintenance to keep. Still, rehoming a large tortoise can be tricky, so make sure you're ready to commit to them for life. It could theoretically outlive you, so have a plan in place for who will adopt your tortoise if worst comes to worst.