Get a kitten. Bobby is wonderfully low-maintenance -- even manages to amuse himself most of the day. And he's too young to know any other way of life than the one I provide him. (So, for example, he doesn't know that many cats don't like their bellies rubbed.)
Oh, and it will help with the roach problem. It will play with them to death.
The senior citizen is high-maintenance and spoiled, so just a warning -- they do get that way when they get older. But you will love them so much by then it won't matter, you'll be more than happy to continue to spoil them.
And get a rescue. Just 'cause they're so many of them in the world.