I am allowed to have one pet for a modest monthly fee. I will get not only a cat with all the shots, but a self cleaning litter box as well.
If its self cleaning, then all you have to do is carry out the litter. There's nothing to clean, but remember they're very expensive. I thought about getting one, but decided the time it takes me (about 1 minute per day, except when I clean out the litter box), is so small, I decided against it.
I have had a few self-cleaning litter boxes, and there are pros and cons. Pros Once they are past the initial shock, the cats seem to enjoy watching them. Day-to-day maintenance of the litter box is cut down. The cats liked them, they were more fun than scooping, and the box isn't left waiting for someone to get around to emptying it. Cons Some of them require proprietary litter, which is more expensive. The rakes that are used to empty the litter into the container themselves need to be cleaned from time to time. The machines tend not to last a long time. However They usually break within a year so if you get one that comes with a one-year guarantee, you can get a lot of new ones. I'm not sure that the time spent maintaining the machine was any less than the time I would otherwise spend scooping the boxes.
@Lon Tanner In my opinion, no pet can be as rewarding to it's owner than a kitty! If possible, start out with a youngster, female preferred, perhaps 4 months old. It will quickly adapt to your own particular proclivities, and prove to be a wonderful addition. Frank
My wife is allergic to cats, so, after we sell our boat next year, we will get a Shih Tzu pup. Already have a indoor/outdoor play pen for it and other things, including a Care Credit card for vet purposes. Lon, having a cat, curled up on your lap and purring, is great.
"For a small fee" will they be providing the food, etc. @Lon Tanner Wow, you are paying this institution a hefty fee to live there, now in order to keep a pet, another fee. Besides, there could be some people who are allergic to cats and even though the cat is confined to your room, things could still travel through vents!!