Hey there, this is Bobbi! I’m an illustrator and designer living at Cat Cottage. Yes, Cat Cottage is a real place! It’s a cosy little house in the countryside, not far from Lake Garda. Here, I draw, run my small business and rescue cats.
I’ve been an animal lover since I was born. My mom always told me my first proper word was “Micio,” which means “kitty” in Italian. This alone should have indicated something about my future, but everyone overlooked those early signs of what would become a lifelong passion for cats. I began rescuing pets in elementary school.
During my childhood, I spent my time either with animals or drawing. I could sit for hours with pencils and paper, illustrating the stories in my head. My mom worked at a publishing company and brought home beautifully illustrated books, which opened my eyes to the works of Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor. I realized it was possible to earn a living by drawing stories!
Illustrated books and comics ignited a passion for words, and I began reading novels at a very young age. The titles I read were clear hints of my inclinations: “Born Free,” “Life with Bears,” all of Jack London’s works, “Anne of Green Gables,” and not to mention, Pippi Longstocking, who was my style icon.
I craved adventures, freedom, and time with animals in nature. I dreamed of making a living as an illustrator while living on a farm overlooking the lake, where I could save animals. But at the time, I was stuck in downtown Milan.
For reasons too lengthy to explain here, I went on to study art and fashion design, eventually working for a fashion company. However, the characters like Pippi Longstocking, Anne of Green Gables, The Moomins, and Peter Rabbit were screaming inside me. When you have Pippi Longstocking as a style icon, working in the fashion industry can feel incredibly out of place. I knew I needed to make a change.
When the fashion company I worked for went under, I leapt. I had no clear direction but knew my new hometown had to be small—preferably smaller than Milan. People reacted to my decision to leave Milan with scepticism, often saying, “Yeah, yeah, move to the country, you’ll be back in a month.” Well, it’s been 22 years.
Here is where I found a job in interior design, and six months later, I discovered Cat Cottage. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. An ancient, pint-sized cottage with a massive garden—all for me! It was next to an organic farm, which was a pleasant surprise! It wasn’t exactly how I pictured it in my childhood dreams, but it was close enough.
When I arrived, my neighbour’s cat was the only 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 pulled me through some rough patches. Cats and colours—they’re my therapy. Whenever I’ve felt down, I cuddled a cat or picked up a paintbrush. Sometimes, I did both, and it always made things better.
After the design company closed down, I tried my hand at running a shop for four years. I’ve had several bad ideas in my life, and this one ranks among the top five. At times, it felt more like a near-death experience than business! I should’ve closed that shop way sooner, but when I finally did, I made a pact with myself to honour my childhood dream of drawing for a living.
I began publishing my drawings on different marketplaces, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to share the benefits that cats and colours have always given me. So, I created this website, and here I am! Drawing and saving animals in the countryside, just like I wanted as a kid.
Yes, those are cats and not lions or bears, and this is not a farm—though it’s next door to one—and the lake is 20 km away. But I’m happy nonetheless.
My suggestion is to stick to the dreams you had as a child as much as possible. I would have saved a lot of time if I had listened to my inner child from the start. Children know better.
p.s.
Pippi Longstockings is still my style icon.
