Cats became domesticated thousands of years ago from wildcats of Africa. While more independent than dogs, cats enjoy being around people. They are clean, quiet and require little space. Cats can be easily litter box trained and remain indoors all the time.
Cats also require regular grooming and their nails trimmed.
Cats will scratch furniture unless you provide a scratch post and train them to use it. Cats require regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations and spaying and neutering which can be expensive. Outdoor cats are more likely to require veterinary care. Cats require identification in case they get lost. There are special cat collars you can buy or you can have your cat tattooed.