How many pets is too many?

I don't think you are worried or upset at all about the number of people and pets living there, or the condition they live in. I think you are upset because they owe you money and "you" think they can not afford the animals since they have not repaid "you". Unfortunately, people often spend money as they see it and not how others would prefer they do so. There is an old saying that goes along the lines of ...if a friend borrows $20 and you never see them again, it was $20 well spent. Life is to short to worry about what others are doing in their house or why they have not repaid a debt to you. Move on, if they pay you back, then YAY; if not, well at least you will never have to loan them money again (at least not that you should expect to get back).

However many "pets" it takes.

As long as you have adequate resources to keep the pets healthy and happy, then it's your choice. Just don't put yourself and animals in a dangerous environment by having over crowding.

I'm currently living with my parents in their 3 bed/2.5 bathroom house with a basement. My boyfriend and I have 2 cats, my parents have 2 cats, and we're "cat sitting" my sister-in-laws 2 cats while her and her husband try to find a permanent place to live so the cats aren't stressed by having to move every month or so. They are all happy and healthy. Some people might see 6 cats under one roof as excessive, but I am able to feed them top of the line food and I make sure the litter box is cleaned daily. It's all a matter of how dedicated you are to caring for your animals.

Pets outnumber people in my family.

It's probably a bit excessive, but I've no problem taking care of the herd and the herd does a pretty good job of taking care of me.

I love you.

If I had unlimited funds, I'd buy acres of land, build a complex, and adopt every single animal from all the shelters. I'd hire care-takers, people to play with them, etc.

Back to reality, when you can't take care of them = too many.

I'd do the same... with pitties... all the sheleter pitties I could get to re habilitate them and love them and just stare at how adorable and amazingly beautiful they are

But I think that's a bit much for a 2 bedroom apt

If you are consistently unable to pay your bills (no home, can't feed yourself) or unable to provide proper food, cleanliness, water, and shelter for your animals then you have too many. The rule of thumb I use is "would this animal be better off in a shelter?" If yes, then you should not obtain any more pets and think about finding good homes for the ones that you have.

Some people might see 6 cats under one roof as excessive, but I am able to feed them top of the line food and I make sure the litter box is cleaned daily. It's all a matter of how dedicated you are to caring for your animals.

I agree with this. You can have a ton of animals, but you must be caring for them as they need to be happy and healthy.

I don't think you are worried or upset at all about the number of people and pets living there, or the condition they live in. I think you are upset because they owe you money and "you" think they can not afford the animals since they have not repaid "you". Unfortunately, people often spend money as they see it and not how others would prefer they do so. There is an old saying that goes along the lines of ...if a friend borrows $20 and you never see them again, it was $20 well spent. Life is to short to worry about what others are doing in their house or why they have not repaid a debt to you. Move on, if they pay you back, then YAY; if not, well at least you will never have to loan them money again (at least not that you should expect to get back).

John, you're one intelligent man <raises hat>

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My town has a limit. 5 pets per household. They also do inspections every few months to make sure the home is safe for the pets and that the pets are being fed and not abused. I don't know many towns that do this, and it's mandatory.

Wow, I would seriously take issue with that...

If you live in a town that has this law/bylaw/whatever it's called than you agree to it if you want to have pets in your home. If you don't like it, don't get a pet.

Personally, I agree with it as there are far too many people who do not properly take care of their animals.

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A flatcoat retriever/border collie mix (about 65 lbs) and a chiuahua and a pomeranian mix.

And let me guess. The Chihuahua is the non pottytrained one. Stupid little rat dogs, I've never run across one that actually 'figured it out' that potty goes outside, not in the corner right when you get back in.

I have a "stupid little rat dog" that doesn't go to the bathroom inside. It isn't all of those "stupid little rat dogs" that don't know where the proper place is to go. Mine is very well trained and knows he is to go outside and not in the house. I also know five other "stupid little rat dogs" that don't go to the bathroom in the house.

My sister has two "stupid little rat dogs" and guess what? They both will sit at the back door and let you know they need to go. Neither of them has ever had an accident inside.

So what's the background on these people? Did all of the adults live together and then get these pets in the 2 bedroom apartment? Did they combine households, bringing all of their individual pets with them? Did they at one point have a better living/financial situation?

Just from personal experience, people don't generally start out with that many people/pets in that small of space. I know my husband is a huge animal lover, and at one point he tried to save a pack of puppies (nine total) that would have been put in a sack in thrown in the river (yeah, that's the kinda backwoods place I live...). Unfortunately we couldn't find homes for any of them and they turned into BIG dogs. It was a huge strain financially, and when they were just reaching adulthood, my husband lost his job, making it a daily choice about what kind of food we were going to eat, the animals were going to eat, and which bills were going to get paid.

Just because life goes bad, you can't just stop feeding/taking care of your family, and that goes for pets too. It sucks, but they are dependent on you. Like I said, I don't know the surrounding circumstances of the OP's people in reference, so I withhold judgement.

My town also has limits, unless you foster for the animal shelter or the Humane Society. In that case, it's waived. I like fostering for many reasons, one of which is that I can have puppies as often as I like (which is sad in itself that people dump them off before they're even six weeks old, and due to parvo concerns they can only be sent to fosters or euthanized).