Gosh, I wish I could help . . . what an intolerable situation, and Denver sounds like a most UN-friendly cat city.

If you have friends that could take the cats temporarily, that would be one way around it, eh?! Just long enough so that when the inspectors come and see that you have relinquished the required number of cats, they will be satisfied and leave you alone. Then, you can bring the loaned out kitties back home . . . sounds like a plan to me.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope that you can keep ALL of your children. What an agonizing task to have to pick and choose. A loving home is not easy to come by for so many cats out there . . . poor babies.