Questions about plants??? All you people with green thumbs answer please!?

My bedroom is in the basement and I only have one little tinsy window. I really wanted to get some potted plants down there, just an asortment of different ones and I'll prolly put them on a little TV tray and make them look all pretty :) but idk what kinda plants would do okay down there. My grandma gave me a cactus, its not a spiky one it just has leaves but she said it would do okay in there and not to water only like once a week. But would a real spiky cactus be okay? Also I was thinking about cat gr because i have two cats. Give me some suggestions on what PLANTS (not flowers, plants) that I could get and where to get them, also how to take care of them. (if you dont want to tell me thats alright I'm sure my grandma would know) But all sorts of plants cuz I want a big variety! OKAY thanks! :)