Am I in the wrong for wanting cats? TW mental illnesses

I apologize for any grammar mistakes as well as wrong words, English isn't my first language.

I (F/18) am moving into my own place soon and want to adopt one or two cats as I grew up with them and just really want some company and give them a nice forever home.

Now the problem; a friend of mine started to tell me I'm selfish for wanting to bring animals in my unstable situation and I'm questioning my decision (I'm in contact with shelters but haven't had any big decisions made yet, so there is still time to change plans).

I have several mental health issues, depression since I'm 10 and an Ed since I'm 13 years old, now in the process of being diagnosed with Bpd and Adhd, so I tend to make decisions without really thinking them trough.

As I said, I will move into a two room flat by June and am going back to school in August. I will probably live here for two years till I graduate and move away after to work in a shelter after or study animal medicine. Animals are a big part of my live, my dog who lives with my parents is a huge reason why I haven't killed myself the past years. As I will be living directly in the city I wouldn't want my cats to roam around on their own, fearing they might get hit by a car which my friends says is animal abuse, since cats want to go outside but I don't want to wait 20 years, till I have my own house on the land, there they wouldn't be in constant danger of being hit.

My reason to wanting cats is that I want to have something to take care of, having someone rely on me and giving me a reason to not fall back into old habits, for example my bulimia and drug use in the past (I wasn't addicted but used sometimes and I tend to get addicted really fast and having trouble staying clean after).

My friends reason for the accusation is that I will move in around two years and that I can't completely control if I will be able to keeping a normal life without the Ed which almost killed me this past year. I understand her being worried I won't be a good cat parent but I'm wanting to have a reason to be stable but I can understand making this reason an animal with thoughts and feelings may not be a great decision.

So, have you any tips for me moving forward? I really want to share my home with animals, but I don't want to be selfish as well.

submitted by /u/Pitch-Black-Ivy
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/n59623/am_i_in_the_wrong_for_wanting_cats_tw_mental/