I am an advocate of adopting pairs, whether it is cats or dogs
. A cat as an adult can happily spend time alone, but as kittens they want to play and play hard and need each other to wrestle with and chase. A young puppy will fill that role as well, so you might consider starting with a canine and feline pair. Matched by size of course. That will take a lot of focus off of things a single cat or puppy can destroy. Having two doesn't guarantee that they won't cause quite a stir in your household, especially at night, but it will make them happier animals. Cat behavior is a fascinating thing to study and will help you greatly through the challenging kitten and adolescent stage. If you take the time to understand your feline and don't assume he processes information like a dog, you will be richly rewarded by years of pleasure and friendship with your cat.