I have recently seperated from my boyfriend of 3 years. We were living together in a house in a rural setting. We had a black lab and 2 cats between us. I am a recent graduate and i am unemployed, but have a small website business making and selling jewellery.

When we split up before Christmas i went to my parents and then moved in with my sister. My ex is living back with his parents. Neither of us can be in that house. Flynn the dog is with my ex but his parents do all the looking after. The 2 cats are in the house and get fed twice a day, but are not getting the attention they deserve.

I have a flat in the city planned to move in to on Feb 10th. Its a huge flat with 2 other girls that i have just met. I am allowed to take the cats. Iv met one of the girls and she is fine with the cats, though only as there is a clause in the lease saying i am responsible for any damage they do, which is fair enough. I havnt even met the other girl yet, so this may all go wrong before i even need to make a proper decision! However the other girl that is fine with the cats say that she sees no reason for her friend to not want them there.

The cats will be fine in the flat. They are house cats anyway and the flat is twice the size of the house they are in now.

So, my problem is this. Should i take the cats into the flat? The actual cats would be fine. Its the other flat mates that im not sure of. Is it fair on them? Cats are hairy. They can be smelly and i think il should put the litter tray in my room as i dont want them to have to deal with it. What if i go away? I cant expect them to look after them. I dont intend to go anywhere as i need to find a job asap! I can afford to look after the cats. My ex will pay towards food and things for them until i am employed.

I just dont know whats best for the cats. My life is so uncertain at the moment. My ex and i split up for reasons to do with him and his depression, so i am having to deal with that too. The cats will be a god send in a hectic world but i dont want to keep them just for selfish reasons.

My parents think its a bad idea to keep them. Other people say its a bad idea, others say do what you feel is right. But i just dont know. I feel that i am left to sort htis all out as my ex can hardly look after himself right now.