You cannot be held responsible for your LL's cats.
Does your lease contain an early termination clause? If so, pay the fees as outlined and move. You will then be done with lease. If not, then find a suitable person to sublet.
You can always move since no one can force you to stay there. However, you will forfeit your security deposit and you are liable for the rent until the unit is re-rented or your lease expires as well as the costs associated with re-renting the unit.
None of that is legal grounds to break your lease without penalty. They cannot charge any and all people living in the house for the cats, that's ludicrous. SHE is the one with the cats and only she can be charged. There is no law against being rude or inconsiderate so no that will not get you anything.
You certainly can move but she can charge you what ever lease break fee was stated in the lease.
EDIT: I would ask to speak to a supervisor at animal control. What the officer you spoke to is telling you does not sound correct or legal.
You have to figure out who you rented the room from first. You say it's her. Then you say it's your dad. Who signed your lease or made the agreement with you? That is your landlord. You take photos, move and then sue that person for the return of your deposit.
Good luck.
I don't see how you can get in trouble for her cats. They aren't yours and you aren't responsible for them. What if you report her? I'd send her a certified letter stating that due to the illegal number of cats she has you are requesting she either get rid of them or let you out of the lease.
You are her tenant - in no way can you be "charged for the cats." But if this makes the house unlivable for you (it would for me!), you need to move. I'm curious, however, what you mean by "acting landlady."
I need Legal help to get out of my lease.
When I signed the lease I was with the understanding that the acting landlady (who lives in the house with me) only had 3 cats. She told me that once and a while she rescued strays and adopted them out after but the number of cats was still pretty low (5-8). When I moved in she had a total of 23 cats and kitties - 19 over the legal limit. Legally were allowed to have four (2 per adult). Today after talking to a few people at the local Animal Control Center i learned that if someone where to report her or if she got caught with so many cats I too would be charged for the cats and ould have to pay a large fine for it. The cats are annoying and I feel trapped in this house, I can't go anywhere and be alone because they're everywhere. Also I believe that the cats are affecting my health.
On top of the cats, my landlady/roommate isn't the greatest as she's rude without noticing so she never apoligizes, she's unwelcoming and she vacuumes at 1 in the morning.
I recently lost funding and can't afford the apartment and food at the moment so I really need out of this lease - I know I can Sublet the apartment but I really want to know if there is some way I can leave this lease - Any advice is helpful. I really don't want to live in this house anymore.
Thank you
