Couple Spends $10K to Transform Home on 16-Acre Property into ‘Kitty Kingdom’ for 12 Barn Cats (Exclusive)
Emily Bott and Dylan Loewke’s Kitty Kingdom at their farm, the Freedom FarmhouseCredit: Emily Bott
Emily Bott and Dylan Loewke unexpectedly inherited a colony of 16 barn cats when they purchased their farmhouse in Macedon, N.Y., in 2018
After losing several cats to illness and the dangers of outdoor living, the couple gradually brought their remaining cats indoors
Their 12 current cats now enjoy a basement playroom, an upstairs sunroom and an enclosed outdoor patio they call part of the “Kitty Kingdom”
When Emily Bott and Dylan Loewke purchased their 200-year-old farmhouse in Macedon, N.Y., in 2018, they had no idea they were about to become responsible for 16 barn cats. Neither had ever owned a cat before, but what began as an overwhelming surprise eventually inspired them to transform part of their home into an elaborate retreat for their feline companions.
“Transforming a space in our home for our former barn cats has been a dream of mine since we moved in back in 2018,” Bott, an office manager, tells PEOPLE. After years of caring for the cats and gradually bringing them indoors, she and Loewke, an independent contractor, began creating what they now call the “Kitty Kingdom.”
The couple has shared their renovation journey on TikTok, offering a look at the dedicated spaces they’ve created for their former barn cats. Today, the 12 cats living at their nonprofit animal sanctuary, Freedom Farmhouse, have access to a basement playroom, an upstairs sunroom and an enclosed patio known as a catio.
But the journey to creating those spaces wasn’t always a happy one, and Bott admits the early years on their nearly 16-acre property were particularly difficult. When they first discovered the colony, none of the cats had been spayed or neutered, and the couple immediately worried about keeping them safe through the winter.
Their first priority was getting the cats vaccinated and sterilized through a local shelter while providing them with better shelter. They opened their old breezeway to the animals, filling it with beds and heated cat houses to help protect them from the cold.
Bott also began spending time near the cats, many of whom were initially wary of people, allowing them to become comfortable with her presence at their own pace. She would often sit outside reading or scrolling on her phone, occasionally tossing treats to help earn their trust.
Despite their efforts, the couple experienced several devastating losses as the years went by. Some cats died from illnesses or outdoor dangers, including being struck by cars, while another disappeared without a trace.
“In full transparency, the first few years living on this property were rough,” Bott shares. “And then we had one of our beloved cats go missing without a trace. That was heartbreaking, still is to this day.”
Emily Bott and Dylan Loewke’s ‘Kitty Kingdom’Credit: Emily Bott
Most of the losses, she explains, involved cats who developed health problems that the couple ultimately couldn’t overcome. The experience made providing a safer, more controlled environment for the surviving cats increasingly important.
Their transition indoors happened gradually, beginning with a cat door that allowed them to come and go from the breezeway as they pleased. Eventually, some of the more social cats began spending nights inside the farmhouse, earning themselves the affectionate nickname the “sleepover crew.”
As more cats developed medical conditions requiring closer attention, Bott and Loewke decided to keep them inside permanently. Because the animals had formed strong bonds with one another, the others soon wanted to join them, and by 2024, all of the cats had moved indoors.
The couple had already begun remodeling their farmhouse in 2022, but finishing the dedicated cat spaces became a priority in 2025. With nearly all the work completed by Bott and Loewke themselves, the project remains ongoing, including plans to eventually install heated flooring.
The Kitty Kingdom was designed to give the cats plenty of room to explore while accommodating their different personalities. Costing roughly $10,000 to build on their own, the basement provides a large play area, while the upstairs sunroom offers a quieter retreat with a hidden loft favored by the shyer and more independent cats.
The cat’s sunroom created by Emily Bott and her partner, Dylan LoewkeCredit: Emily Bott
In warmer weather, the cats can also enjoy fresh air and direct sunlight from the safety of their enclosed catio. Bott says some adapted to their new surroundings almost immediately, while others needed more time before feeling comfortable enough to explore.
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The experience of caring for the cats eventually inspired the couple to establish Freedom Farmhouse as a nonprofit animal sanctuary, which is also home to two donkeys, two cows and four goats. They hope to continue rescuing animals while encouraging others to show greater compassion toward those who are often overlooked.
For Bott, seeing the cats safe and comfortable after everything they’ve been through has made the years of work worthwhile. Their days of roaming the property may be behind them, but they’ve developed a new routine that includes plenty of sunshine, playtime and evenings spent together.
“Most of the cats will spend all day out in the catio when the weather is nice,” Bott says. “But once nighttime rolls around, they love to cuddle up on the couch together.”
Source: Nature
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