As many as 20 cats, many of them dead, were left in a vacant Clayton County home that firefighters said was so filthy they wouldn’t recommend anyone enter the residence without an oxygen tank.

“It’s to the point the odor is so bad that they actually are on respirators,” Clayton police Capt. Anthony Thuman told Channel 2 Action News.

Most of the kittens, which officials tried to roundup Wednesday on Shadow Creek Avenue, were thought to be 1-week-old.

Police are not sure when the previous renters or owners left, but officers are trying to track them down.

In the meantime, they said trying to catch the rest of the cats is a challenge.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A bicyclist rides on the Beltline by Atlanta’s Krog Street Market on Sept. 16, just before the start of what experts projected would be an unseasonably warm fall. This week’s temperatures are in line with that prediction, as highs are expected to tie or break records. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC