what's a good pet for the working programmer?
jordyhoyt: I have my girlfriend's family's 13-year-old cat, and she fits my lifestyle perfectly.  She's fine while I'm off at work, and is always there to greet me when I get home (usually because she's hoping for some milk).  She's cute and cuddly (to a point, she also likes her space) and is a great friend to have around as I'm currently living alone.I see you've gotten lots of other suggestions for cats, but I hope I can add a bit of info for you.  From what I've been told, male cats really like to be let outside from time to time so they can go hunt/explore/whatever, while females are usually content with napping, bathing, and watching out a window.  Further, longer haired cats are more mellow, while short haired cats can be a bit wild.What I have is a longer-haired female cat, she is totally great.  Good luck, hope you find what you're looking for in a pet!