<human>: Hey guys,

so I hope this isnt inappropriate to ask, but I always had a dog around when I was growing up and now that I moved out from my parents I'd really like to have a pet buddy. 

Now I'd love to have a dog, but because of my job and stuff I won't be able to 100% satisfy it, so I'd rather not get one as I don't want for it to be lonely/bored/hyperactive etc.That being said I thought about getting a rodent. I don't really have much "experience" with pets other than dogs, but I imagine that a rodent (haven't decided what kind yet) generally is rather low maintenance. Feed it, provide it with a nice cage (with a nice wheel to run :D) and clean it every other day should do the trick right? 

Then my mom also suggested a cat. I never had one and I have no idea how they "work". I only had a friend once with a couple of cats and it seemed as if the litter boxes had a quite distinctive smell. Now the thing is, that my "apartment" currently isn't bigger than a room (I live with roommates until I feel like moving into an own apartment), so smells would make me rather uncomfortable in a rather small and closed room. Maybe I am wrong and he just didn't clean them often enough/properly or whatever, so it'd be cool if you could tell me from experience.

Another thing is: I wanna have a pet that kinda.....recognizes me and loves me :D. I know that sounds cheesy and weird, especially if you imagine a 200lb guy, but I absolutely hate fishes for example, because they're just there to be looked at, but I actually want to interact with the pet. I realize that dogs are mans best friend and that probably no other pet can love you as much, but how are cats/rodents in that regard and is there maybe even a difference between say a guinea pig and a hamster?

Can you provide a brief rundown of the text in within 3 sentences?
<bot>: how much attention do different kinds of rodents need? What about a cat? And do they actually love me for my personality, or the food? :P