Yeah, good idea. And if you go to a good shelter, the volunteers will give you a ton of help. Like how to keep the box from being a problem.
Cats do better (in general) than dogs when left alone. Good for single people. Like me. I love cats.
That’s it, I’m gonna adopt a kitty. 
BrknButterfly: Cats take to litter boxes with little to no training. Especially if you get an older one who already knows what to do. Controlling litter smell is largely a matter of the litter you get. My current favorite is Tidy Cats scoopable with the blue label. I’ve also had good luck with Arm and Hammer’s scoopable litter. A covered litter box also helps. And put it in a place where you can easily scoop it every day. Typical cats eat about half a cup of dry food a day, though many cats will self feed if you keep the bowl full. Check the bag/talk to vet for recommendations.
Honestly, indoor kitties are generally pretty inexpensive as pets go. PM me if you have more questions.
You don’t have to teach a cat to use a litter box; their mom teaches them that when they’re babies. And the vast majority of cats do fine with free feeding; we leave dry food out for our cat 24/7, plus we give her 1/2 a teensy can of Fancy Feast for dinner, but that’s entirely optional. Most cats do just fine on nothing but dry.
And for your friend whose litter box stinks? May I recommend Feline Pine litter. We use it, have the litter box in the master bathroom, I only change it once a week, and yet I cannot ever smell the box, even when I’m using the human toilet right next to it. Amazing, amazing stuff.
I didn’t get any weird presents this year, for a nice change. My hubby gave me a lovely gift certificate to a nearby day spa; I’m trying to decide on just how many of their services I can partake of. Definitely a facial, though. I’ve always wanted a facial. And I gave him an assortment of dried fruits and nuts, some nice work clothes, and a couple of silly CDs. Everyone was happy, and it was a nice, stress-free Christmas. Especially with both our families on the other side of the country. 
Hey, what do you mean by that?
I’m a crazy cat man.
Or, are you referring to those who would adopt one of those instead of a cat?
I’m sure this man would be interested.
Thanks guys. I will look into all that stuff and most likely I would adopt one from a shelter. I saved both my dogs, I had.
The only thing keeping me is the deposit. Maybe with the tax refund, if I get one this year.
You guys are awesome, I am really excited about this now. Completely doable.
It’s eerie that that’s one of my local television stations. I’ve never seen that blue fellow, but I have been lectured on giving colloidal silver to ducks (the gentleman lecturing me was for it).
Not to worry! If this thread results in a shelter cat finding a home, and you with something alive to cuddle, it’s all good.
BrknButterfly, it is completely doable. The box smell is a matter of scooping it daily or more often, and finding a litter you like. I like “World’s Best Cat Litter” in the corn variety. Don’t get the wheat variety, I’m told it sticks too well and will glue itself to the wall if you’re not careful. My roommate’s litter is totally fine too, and I’m not even sure what she uses.
A covered cat box is helpful, and most of them have charcoal filters in the top, which helps even more.
Cats are very easy. Then, once you get a cat, you can tell your mother that while you loved the pseudo-lab she gave you, it stressed the cat out too much and you had to give it to an appreciative friend. You win all around.
As for me, I didn’t get any weird gifts. Yet. So far my gift has been, however, the yearly ornament from my grandmother. My parents’ package was supposed to have arrived no later than 4 days ago and is still not here. I don’t mind, but my mother’s very stressed out about it and my dad’s peeved because he got in in two days before the USPS “cut off” date for guaranteed Christmas delivery. I think that’s the worst of it not arriving. It was a bit sad to not really have anything to unwrap today, especially when I was surrounded by others who did, but that passes. Knowing my parents are stressed out about something that should be a joyous occasion, even if we are separated by way too many miles, is the truly sad thing.
Speaking of Amazon goofs, the other day my brother and sister-in-law received a package from Amazon addressed to the previous owner of their house. Not so unusual, except that they’ve been in the house for sixteen years. (I don’t think Amazon even existed when they moved in.) I guessed that the order might have been placed by someone who had old information in their address book, but my sister-in-law said that the billing information for the package had the same name and address, so it appears that the previous owner ordered the package be sent to an address he moved out of sixteen years ago.
My folks knew we all (me, bro, SIL) needed money for Christmas so they gave us each a box full of crumpled up dollar bills.
It was a weird and fun way to give money, I think. My dad kept telling me it “wasn’t much” so, upon looking at it, I assumed it was $50. I just sat down and counted it all out - it was $250 in crumpled bills. Neat!
Exactly. I’ve never been a fan of statuettes and dolls. They’re creepy, especially in large numbers. And tacky. Worse when the “breathe.” <shiver> I know BrknButterfly’s mom was just trying to help, but, yipes.
People who would willingly purchase and gleefully own such contraptions, deriving actual joy when looking at them are, IMHO, farther off their rocker than pet hoarders.
For the OP:
I got a box of steaks. I like meat, and I’m pleased my dad went to the trouble, but steaks? Here, I thought you’d like these particular bits of dead animal more than the ones at the store on the corner 
From my wife’s 89-year-old grandmother, I got what looks like it’s a candy dish, except that it’s actually a print magnifier. And a kaleidoscope, decorated on the outside with kitties.
Yeah, I said the same thing.
My parents gave me a fire-resistant safe. Though it’s not odd since I asked for it.
The second weirdest gift opened at my aunt’s place this year was ice traction slipons. They’re for putting over slippers when you go outside and they look like a slice of studded tire. The weirdest one was matching red union suits–yeah, the ones that guys in the 1880’s wore. My aunt gave her two daughters and her older daughters’ boyfriend (and got one for herself) with monogramming, no less. They even have the rear opening.
This was an exceptionally good gift-giving and gift-receiving year for me. But…a really good friend of mine got me a Barry Manilow CD. And it wasn’t a gag gift. She loves him–she went nuts earlier this year because she actually got to see him perform in Vegas!–so I truly appreciated the thought and gesture. And hey, it’s a Christmas CD, so I’ll only have to listen to it once a year.
DeathLlama peeked in the gift bag when he handed it to me, and chuckled darkly as he did.
We’re not exactly Barry Manilow people. We’re U2, System of a Down, Regina Spektor, Shostakovich, Sheryl Crow, No Doubt, Barenaked Ladies, Gorillaz, Steven Sondheim, Beatles, Weird Al Yankovic, even a touch Justin Timberlake, kind of people. Eclectic, yes, but note the glaring lack of Manilow.
Weird gifts? From my parents?
A milk jug and a shoehorn.
Though I asked for the milk jug. The shoehorn was completely out of left field - especially as it’s mid-summer here and we’re all wearing jandals (NZ) / thongs (AUS) / Flip flops (US)
Bluekangaroo - several people in my circle of kith and kin do the ‘tree ornament every year’ thing too. Next Christmas I’ll have to buy a bigger tree!
BrknButterfly - As much as I missed him, I swore I’d never get another cat after mine died six years ago, for the same reasons you’ve listed. Then I found (literally, on the side of the path) a budgie. The little bugger is as full of character and just as good company as any other pet I’ve had and he’s much, much cheaper to run. It’s another option for you anyway.
You misspelled zories (Japan, US).
Thanks, now tell me what my kid will call them when she gets back from Hong Kong!