If you’re going to get a cat, get a kitten. I don’t know what you mean about not having the ‘patience’. Do you mean you don’t want an energetic cat that plays? Because adult cats will play too.
But the reason you want to get one as a kitten is so that it will bond to you. The cat will be more affectionate if you’ve raised it from kittenhood. It’s better. Get it later and who knows how well it bonds to you, and it may be more nervous…and nervous cats….that’s bad news. That’s when you get cats pissing outside the litter box and generally being annoying. It’s possible an adult will bond with you…but it’s just an animal that is that much more set in it’s ways.
Per the clawing thing…just get them declawed if you’re really worried about it. Front claws only. There’s no advantage to declawing the backs. You’ll have to tell the shelter you won’t but – hot tip, they can’t enforce it. But you can use softpaws or trim their nails. It’s just more work and more holding the cat down while you do it which increases their stress level, especially if you haven’t gotten them used to it since they were a kitten.
Cats are awesome. Contrary to myth they are very affectionate, but on THEIR terms. They’re not your little affection robot. They’re cute, they’re playful, and you’ll never be allowed to use the bathroom alone again. And, unlike dogs, you can just scoop litter on your time frame rather than being a slave to walking the dog when it needs it. You can also go on short vacations and just leave extra food and water. You only need a pet sitter if you’re gone for more than 3 or 4 days at a time. MOST cats won’t just eat all the food in one sitting and kill themselves like a dog will. And cats are just CHILL in a way dogs aren’t.
But if you aren’t ready to take care of them, then don’t get one.