You have indeed done your research. We've had cats off and on for years, initially indoor/outdoor cats until unfortunately we lost our 2 cats to something they ingested outdoors. Lesson learned, the hard way. My husband prefers kittens, however, after losing my lap cat, Casper, he kept hedging on me getting a new cat. Well, my friend Terry J. and I were coming home from a quilt class, she took a different route home, and I spotted the sign to the animal shelter, so she took me. They had lots of possibilities to be sure, but nothing clicked until she spotted a black cat behind the door, named Terry. OMG, when the tech. handed her to me, she snuggled under my chin, rested her head on my shoulder, let me twist and turn her every way from Sunday and didn't want to leave me. Terry hates cats (she was attacked as a child), but told me I had to get her. They put her on the schedule to be neutered, and 4-5 days later I brought her home. Terry insisted that I couldn't rename her, just to annoy my DH, however, we have a daughter named Kari, and DH confuses them when I say their name, so since Terry's last name begins with "J", she is now TJ and I couldn't be happier. She follows me like a dog at times, now sleeps on the bed, with me or on top of me or my pillow and I have a soul mate. Sorry this is long-winded, but after owning both cats and dogs, cats are easier because you can leave them for a weekend and they are fine. I not only have my lap cat, I have my cuddle cat. Hope you are just as fortunate, when the cat is the right one, you'll know it. Good luck.