Cobb man left 35 cats home alone, police say

A Marietta man faces 35 counts of animal cruelty after he apparently went abroad and left cats at home to fend for themselves.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Curtis Johnson, 51, who police say left 35 cats alone in his home, not far from Jim R. Miller Park.

Two weeks ago, Cobb County animal control officials found overflowing litter boxes on the front porch of the Glynn Oaks Drive home, combined with the “very strong odor of cat urine”, according to the warrant.

And that was just outside the house.

Inside, the home’s floors were overflowing with urine and feces, and there was inadequate food or water for the animals.

Police called in local veterinarian, Jeanne Grim of West Cobb Vet Clinic, to evaluate the scene. Graham advised that all of the cats be removed from the home due to the conditions. County officials taped a notice for the absent homeowner to one of the garage windows.

One of the cats had to be euthanized due to “humanitarian” reasons, according to the warrant.

Johnson faces $20,000 bond when he is arrested.

But it doesn’t look as though he has been home for some time. Weeds in the front yard are waist-high, and piles of garbage and debris are strewn on the driveway.

“They need to just burn it down,” said neighbor Barbara Wrenn, who has lived in the home across the street for 22 years.

Wrenn said she doesn’t know Johnson very well, but says he rescues cats. Last summer, however, things got out of hand at Johnson’s home.

“We could walk outside and smell the cats,” she said.

Police were called then too, and animal control officials wearing masks removed the animals.