i can sympathise with your situation Alison as i have just had to make the same decision just last week. I have a gorgeous burmese cat which i have also had since he was a kitten and for me the decision was much easier and that he is coming with me....no debate. By my reckoning i am looking at £2,500 costs involved which of course, it is very expensive but for the sake of a few grand to have your furbabies with you for the rest of your life i think will make you a much happier person for it, i think it will me. Looking at your list of expenses it seems you are going to find it tight for the first few years anyway, unfortunately not all people have fantastic jobs to walk into but i believe your back up plan is the sale of the house. I would say Ted & Dougal are worth the extra money involved and try to focus on the sale of your house which will help you make the best decision. I have just sold my house (still going through contract) after it beng on the market for 18 months. I spruced it up a bit, (spent £950) and re-advertised it with a discount price and a previous viewer came back to buy it. Yes i didnt get what i wanted for it, but all in all i am chuffed to have sold up as it gives me much better chance of making a good go of it in Oz and most importantly affording me the chance to take my gorgeous cat too. A very difficult decision Alison, and of course there will be sacrifices made but there are ways and means to get everything you want....best of luck and chin rubs all round ha