Cats. Individualistic and easy to take care of.
I can randomly go somewhere for a few days and not have to make big arrangements. All my cats have always been loving and want to hang out with me a lot. Maybe just lucky, but I think they know how much I love them. I Would love a dog again too, but I always seem to travel more than a dog should have to deal with. They take it much harder, and I don’t want to cause them undue harm.
I get the hate some feel for cats though. Can even understand those who don’t like them for the litter box. Best if you have a screened in porch and cat door and leave the litter box there. Then your house is much cleaner and less of an animal smell to take care of. I couldn’t have a box in my house either.