Hi, I’m Bobbi! I’m an illustrator and designer, and I live in a little place I call Cat Cottage. Yes, it really exists—a tiny, ancient house tucked away in the countryside, not far from Lake Garda. Here I draw, run my small creative business, and open my doors to cats in need of a home.
My love for animals started the moment I was born. According to my mom, my very first proper word was “Micio” (Italian for kitty). Looking back, it feels like fate—but at the time, nobody suspected how much those early words would shape my whole life. I rescued my first pets while I was still in elementary school.
As a child, my world revolved around two things: animals and drawing. I could spend hours with pencils and scraps of paper, illustrating the stories in my head. My mom worked in publishing and often brought home beautifully illustrated books. That’s how I discovered the worlds of Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor—and realised that telling stories through drawings could be a way of life.
Books and comics soon sparked a passion for words as well. I devoured novels far beyond my age: Born Free, Life with Bears, the works of Jack London, Anne of Green Gables, and of course, Pippi Longstocking—my childhood style icon and a kindred spirit.
I longed for adventure, freedom, and time outdoors with animals. I dreamed of being an illustrator on a farm by the lake, where I could rescue creatures in need. Instead, I grew up in the very heart of Milan.
I’ve studied art and fashion design, and took a job at a fashion company. But deep inside, the voices of Pippi, Anne, the Moomins, and Peter Rabbit kept calling. When your fashion icon is Pippi Longstocking, the fashion world feels like the wrong stage. I knew I needed to change direction.
When the company I worked for collapsed, I took a leap of faith. I didn’t have a plan, just one certainty: my next hometown had to be small—smaller than Milan, at least. People were sceptical, telling me, “Sure, move to the countryside… you’ll be back in a month.” But it’s been 22 years, and I never looked back.
Six months after moving, I stumbled upon Cat Cottage. The first time I saw it, I was in awe: a tiny, timeworn cottage with a sprawling garden, all mine. And right next door, an organic farm! It wasn’t exactly the farm from my childhood dreams—but it was close enough.
And here I am, still. Drawing, rescuing, creating, and living surrounded by the fun company of cats.
When I arrived with my two cats, my neighbour’s kitty was the only other furry creature around. I started lending a hand to local animal groups, and before I knew it, word had spread about how I helped cats find new families. In no time, I had a crew of kitties occupying my garden. I have been fostering cats ever since, finding forever homes for many while keeping others as part of the family. Some are indoor cats, while others have residency in the garden, depending on their personalities and health needs.
Cat Cottage is a five-star resort for cats. There are no cars or predators, and my neighbors are big fans of our furry friends. So if I come across cats needing help, I welcome them with open arms—and an open wallet. Keeping up with these rascals can be pricey. Currently, I have 25 furry tenants.
.These furballs have carried me through some rough patches. Cats and colors—they’re my therapy. Whenever I felt low, I would cuddle a cat or pick up a paintbrush. Sometimes, I did both, and somehow, it always made everything better.
After the design company I worked for closed down, I tried running my own shop for four years. Looking back, it ranks among the top five worst ideas I’ve ever had. At times, it felt more like a near-death experience than a business! I should have closed it much sooner, but when I finally did, I made a promise to myself: to honour my childhood dream of making a living by drawing.
I started publishing my illustrations on various marketplaces, but that alone wasn’t enough. I wanted to share the comfort and joy that cats and colors have always given me. So, I created this website, and here I am—living the life I dreamed of as a child: drawing and caring for animals in the countryside.
Yes, those are cats, not lions or bears. And no, this isn’t a farm—though there’s one next door—and the lake is twenty kilometers away. But I’m happy all the same.
My advice? Stick as closely as you can to the dreams you had as a child. Listening to my inner child from the start would have saved me so much time. Children often know best.
P.S. Pippi Longstocking is still my style icon.
