My terrible situation

I havenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t been posting on TCS much in the past few weeks, mostly because my life has come down around my ears. I am staring at the worst thing that has ever happened to me, it will become a reality in 2 ½ short weeks. I am losing my home. I have been behind on mortgage payments for a while, and filed for bankruptcy last year. Then the car died, and I had to re-file. The lawyer filed the wrong papers, and without reading them through, I signed my name to a document that swore I had never filed a bankruptcy before, when in fact I had just months earlier. My mortgage companyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s attorney jumped on that and filed a suit against me, saying it was a “frivolous filing†and got the US Bankruptcy court to ban me from filing another Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

I met with a different lawyer to discuss my options, since the previous one had been fined by the court and I was not permitted to stay with him as a result. He said I could file a motion to try and get the court to allow me one last chance, and it would cost me $5000. Then I would have to re-file bankruptcy (if allowed) and that would be another $800. And then, the hardest part. Besides my $925 monthly mortgage, I would have to pay the Trustee $550 a month. I canâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t afford $1500 a month just to live in my house. Plus, I would have NO money to spare for any kind of emergency, house, car, cat or otherwise. And if I missed payments, I would still lose the house, and would be out even more money.

My only other option is to let the bank take it back. That is going to happen on 2/25/04. Then, Tybalt, the cats and I will have anywhere from 30 days to perhaps June of this year to find another place to live.

Where do you go when you have 18 cats? I could never, ever part with any of them. I promised them all that they had a home forever with me.

Our options seem to be: find a local house/townhouse/apartment that we can rent, in a complex that allows cats, and just not tell them how many we have, or pile them in the car and drive cross county to go and stay with Tybaltâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s mom and her 8 cats in Southern California.

I wish I could keep the house, I just donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t see how it is feasible. The only other option is a miracle, to come up with the past due amount (which is about $30k) before 2/24 and get caught up to date on the mortgage. That is a “I have to win the lottery†kind of miracle, and I know better than to hope that it will come to pass.

I am scared, angry, embarrassed. I havenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t discussed any of this with my family, most of all because I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t want to hear “we told you so†or other helpful comments. I am probably going to tell them that I decided to sell the house because it needed a lot of work (which is true).

Any suggestions that do not involve parting with any of the cats would be more than welcome. How do I find a landlord who will let us live somewhere with our cats? I know I can get a really good letter of reference from the manager of the local SPCA where we do the Petfinder work, he has been to our home and knows we are not collectors, the house is clean and the cats are happy, healthy and well cared for, not to mention spoiled rotten. Or do I throw it all aside, including the new job I started a month ago today, which I LOVE, and head west?

Just wanted you to know that you're in my prayers.

Thank you for your prayers, they are very much appreciated.

There is no way on heaven or earth I would part with any of the cats. They are my children, and mean more to me than most humans do, including a good portion of those related to me. Tybalt feels 100% the same way about them. A friend of his told him last night that we should start looking for homes for the cats, and he just about exploded on her.

Wherever we go, they'll be with us.

Please don't be embarrassed! We're here to offer support & ideas, not to criticize - hard times can happen to anyone. *hugs*

The best I can suggest is to put out feelers for housing through people you know through the shelters, and fellow cat lovers. They don't need to know why you're moving, just that you need to move & find new housing. A lot of times someone will know someone who knows someone who has a property for lease.

Also, try to get letters of recommendation or contact phone numbers of people who have been to your house, who will vouch for your quality care of home & cats. Get a reference from your vet, saying that you keep the animals clean & flea-free. Having good references can make the difference for finding housing.

I've also had good luck in going & meeting with the landlord in person, before I bring up the subject of the quantity of cats. You usually have better chances if you can meet the person first & make a good impression, and THEN bring up the subject of pets & references. Then it's more likely that they'll say yes, instead of turning you down over the phone before they've met you.

The Humane Society has great info about renting with pets, and finding pet-friendly housing:
www.rentwithpets.org

Honestly, I wouldn't lie about how many you have, except maybe the ones you're positive will hide if a repairperson comes over, or the landlord visits. It might put you in a tough situation later.

You're wonderful for providing a forever home to all of your cats, and taking that commitment to heart.

I couldn't lie about the number of them, they all love looking out windows and are all nosy as heck. The most I would do is refrain from mentioning the number, if I wasn't directly asked.

That might work.

Mine were a little easier 'cause they're all the same color. If you have any 'duplicates', that would help to lower the 'official' count.

Hmm well to the untrained eye, Blondie (buff) and Jules (orange) might seem the same. Romeo and Midnight are both black. There are 3 Abys. Question and Pan look alike. Coal and Polly are both grey. That's 11 cats looking like 5, that is a start!

Wow I'm so sorry you're going through all this. What a nightmare. I have no suggestions for you but wanted you to know you're in my thoughts and prayers. I sure hope you come up with a solution and can rest your mind at ease soon.

Tammie

Thanks Tammie, I appreciate it. You guys here at TCS are the best! I keep telling myself that a door doesn't close in life without another opening, and there may be better times ahead that I can't see right now, but it gets hard to have faith.

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
Thanks Tammie, I appreciate it. You guys here at TCS are the best! I keep telling myself that a door doesn't close in life without another opening, and there may be better times ahead that I can't see right now, but it gets hard to have faith.

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I totally understand.

Sue, I'm still pretty new here, but you and your family are in my prayers. I don't know if this will help at all, and I'm sure you've already checked this out, but just in case. Have you contacted any pro-bono, or legal aid society programs in your area. In Hawaii, we have LASH (Legal Aid Society of Hawaii) they offer free legal advice, and pro-bono work to many who need it. I did a quick google search, and came up with

http://www.lehighlegal.org/links/linkdel.htm
and
http://www.lasp.org

The reason I mention this, is that if your original attorney was negligent and mis-filed your second bankruptcy paperwork, maybe one of these organizations can file for you as a pro-bono case, avoiding the $5000 fee, and save your family and your furbabies a lot of trouble.

By the way, my wife had to file for bankruptcy a few years ago(before we were married). There is no reason to be embarassed, life throws us curveballs that sometimes just can't be avoided.

The hardest part of all of this was seperating the emotion from the logic. My reaction all along has been, "Oh my god, I can't lose the house!" and now I am trying to look at it more objectively.

Sue, I'm so sorry you have to go through this! I hope it all works out for you and you don't lose your house! You're in my thoughts!

{{{{Hugs}}}}

I dont have much in the way of advice ...but i will be praying for you and the cats...hugz
Lorien

I am so sorry that you have to go through this! That is awful

I wish I knew how to help you, but please know that you and your whole family are in my thoughts.

Sue, I'm so sorry you and Tybalt have to go through something like that. I'll keep you guys and your beautiful kitties in my thoughts.

I don't have any advice, but I will definitely be sending the best energy I can muster your way.

Thanks, guys. I know Board Magic has a way of working, so I will keep hoping.

Have a Powerball ticket for tonight, so keeping my fingers crossed!