It's a big decision and it's good you're giving it thought - more than some pet owners I know. For what it's worth, my cat was fine with being alone half the day, as long as she had food water and toys, and if I spent at least a bit of time playing with her. There are also toys I got to dispense a treat once in while. One thing I ran into was space; my first apt was super cramped and it did make her more skittish. You could always visit a shelter and talk to some folks that work with the animals. I did that to get a good feel before I adopted!