 Siglinda Scarpa says she had issues with communication as a child , stating that “ people were not seeing me , that they were talking , but never to me . ” It was not until her father brought a stray kitten home and placed it under her sheets that Scarpa felt she could communicate with someone . The kitten was a year old when he became very ill and died . After his death , Scarpa decided to take in as many cats as possible , with the hopes of eventually creating a safe haven for cats . Scarpa created the Goathouse Refuge in 2007 , naming it after an old goat who came with the dilapidated plantation house and the 16 acre property . Originally , the land was just intended for her pottery studio . After the house and studio burned down Scarpa rebuilt it with plans that included a sanctuary for cats , using personal resources and proceeds from her pottery sales to make it possible . 
