The Goathouse is a sanctuary for cats that have no where else to go. Many will find their furever homes, but for some - the elderly, sick or unadoptable - the Goathouse will be their home for the rest of their lives. Many were dumped on the streets, abandoned, and some were rescued from kill shelters. They roam freely, are extremely well cared for including food, vet care and a warm bed. Potential adopters are thoroughly screened to ensure that the cat is going to a good home and will not end up on the streets or in a kill shelter. Visitors can spend as much time as they want just visiting with the cats or strolling through beautiful gardens complete with free range chickens. It is truly a magical place for the animal lover. read more

I've had a really bad experience with this place and heard many similar stories from others. The owner, Siglinda, is extremely rude and aggressive. She yells at people trying to surrender animals and treats volunteers like they're stupid. It's not a welcoming or respectful environment at all. The animals often look sick and poorly cared for. Many have skin issues and it doesn't seem like there's any quarantine or proper medical care happening. I know people who adopted cats they were told were healthy and fixed, only to find out they were sick and not spayed or neutered. They had to spend hundreds at the vet. The facility itself is in rough shape. There's moldy wood, sharp metal sticking out, and it doesn't look safe for the animals. They leave wet food out for hours, which is gross and attracts bugs. It's only open to the public two days a week, and they barely respond to messages. I've also heard she's keeping a bunch of cats in her personal home instead of the refuge, which is really concerning. This place honestly feels more like a hoarding situation than a proper animal rescue. I really wouldn't recommend adopting from here or supporting them. The animals deserve so much better. read more

These kitties are very well taking care of. They are loved and Siglinda the owner is doing her best with the help of much needed donations and volunteers to keep these cats happy and healthy until they can be adopted or remain spending their last days in a loving environment. Please support this much need cause. read more

Holy cats! This is one of the most unusual pet shelters I've visited in the area . Seriously. Once you find the street, the refuge is a short drive down a gravel driveway and then another short walk to the main building. Walking along the driveway to the right behind a fence are goats. I counted at least 5 but there may be more in the goat houses. To the left of the driveway is another fence with two or three smaller buildings and all along the way are cats. Cat roaming around, laying in the sun, chasing each other, sleeping, climbing real trees. Walk into the building are there are still more cats, sleeping on blankets, a bed, on top of the cages, in the cages, everywhere you look. The owner let me wander around the buildings and the grounds and take my time. As I did so, one large cat escorted me around. At least I thought he was escorting me, but as I came to realize, he was acting more of a bodyguard and keeping the more timid cats from approaching me. In a way, after all the other shelters I've visited, where the rooms and hallways are closed-in and a few where the closest the cat gets to the outside is a window, the Goathouse Refuge goes the opposite direction. I felt like I was in their home. All the cats are able to free-roam around the grounds. It was both fun and kind of creepy. The few cats that were in cages in the main building were on medication or special diets so it seems they're well cared for. The Goathouse Refuge is a surreal experience, but what an adventure. It has the same screening processes as other shelters, even doing a home visit, but it's quite an unusual way to meet your new cat friend. read more

This place is Meow-nificent! 365 days a year they're open from 12PM - 3PM, even on Caturdays. I am not adopting a cat, I just go to see the cats. (It's like YouTube, but in real life! There are literally hundreds of cats here. They encourage people like me to swing by and give them some paw-sitive attention. There are spotted cats, striped cats, solid colored cats, cats young and old. Cats with damage, cats in perfect health. There are cats up high, cats down low, cats every where you go. There are cats in, cats out, cats catnapping or running about. I should just stop now before this turns into a Dr. Seuss poem. I admittedly have no clue what the adoption process is like as I have a big dog that likes cats in a way much different than I like them. But maybe in 10 years from now when I need a new companion I will want to get a cat. If that happens I will probably start right here, since I can choose from literally so many cats. When I do get a cat I want a fat, lazy cat that ignores me. They have kittens from time to time. But maybe you can be purr-suaded to just get a cat. I hear the kittens turn into them anyways. :) read more

We found our second cat Nikko at Goathouse Refuge (a real life cat city on a peaceful farm in Pittsboro) and couldn't be more happy. The refuge was really beautiful and the volunteers were so nice. We told them about how our first cat was deaf and quite tiny, so we needed a companion who would be patient and sweet, and they helped us find Nikko. It was a long couple of weeks helping our first cat warm up to him and getting him comfortable in his new home-- even to eat at first-- but it finally happened with a little TLC and a lot of patience. Nikko is so sweet and learned how to play with Gizmo without scaring her or sneaking up on her too much, and now of course they're bffs. The best part is that our deaf cat no longer randomly walks around the house crying (especially at night), and she has a companion to keep her company and play with. I highly recommend Goathouse Refuge. They're honest, passionate, and really care for each and every one of their cats. I love that they encourage adopting two cats if you don't already have one, because they are social animals and do so much better in the long run with a friend. read more

Goathouse Refuge - Thanks for helping Gizmo find her new best friend, GR! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

What a nice place and the cats all look pretty healthy and there are many many cats. The place seems really clean for so many cats and what a selection. They have cats of every kind. I woudl say the only think I woudl have liked to see woudl have been a visiting room. We wee there to see a cat who was kenneled and we really could not put him down. That would have been helpful. But all in all I like the place. Not sure if I like that the cats can go outside but I do think the people seems knowledgeable and friendly...the cats too :) read more

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I was so excited to adopt a kitty. I had lost my kitty of almost nineteen years a a year and a half ago. I wanted to support Goathouse because they are a rescue. When I went there, the conditions were not great. There were hundreds of cats walking around, and it wasn't sanitary. I did however find a kitty that I wanted to adopt. When I was going through the adoption process, they assured me that my cat was in good health and was up to date on vaccinations. When I took him to the vet, I realized that they didn't mark the results of this FeLV/FIV test which they supposedly administered. He did have really nasty ear mites though, which shouldn't have been the case, since they told me they had given him flea medication (which kills ear mites). When I contacted them about the missing FeLV/FIV test results, they were evasive and dismissive, and didn't give me an answer. Fast forward, I just took him to the vet and discovered my furbaby has FeLV. This means, he might only have 2-3 years to live (he's 3 years old), and I am going to have costly medical bills. I love this cat, and I am going to care for him, but I think it's unethical to not disclose this information. I am heartbroken that I now will have to watch my cat get sicker and sicker so young. He also has severe gum disease, and has to have a cleaning, and possible extractions. I am concerned about how many other cats are sick, since FeLV is extremely contagious, and what other medical conditions are not being taken care of or disclosed to interested adopters at this shelter. I would not recommend adopting a cat from here at all. read more

This place is amazing. Imagine a hidden cottage, hidden deep in the woods, where a little old lady lives in an enchanted forest surrounded by hundreds of contented cats. That's basically what the Goat House is. The name is deceiving - there are certainly goats who live here, but really, this place is all about the cats. This is a certified Humane adoption agency and cat shelter, with vets, vet techs, and many volunteers on staff who can take you into the secret kitten and adolescent cat rooms and tell you about all the unique personalities of all the cats. If you're looking to adopt or just want to de-stress by petting cats, this is the place to go. There are approximately 200 to 300 cats living on this one acre cat sanctuary, so this is for serious cat lovers. The smell can be a little overwhelming when you're in the main cat house, but there's plenty of outdoor areas and seating where you can snuggle up with a cat. read more

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Was in search of help rehoming a very sweet but somewhat temperamentally challenged (he doesn't get along with children)cat with special needs (both of which the site says they take.) Apparently this is a lie. I'm not from the area so don't know many people, but know he would be good with the right person. Was treated rudely and not given any suggestions as to alternatives. read more

I am a cat lover and Siglinda does a fantastic job or creating a safe haven for cats in this Pittboro refuge. If I were looking for a cat, I would definitely come here. Many of the cats at Goathouse are saved from shelters and come from all kinds of situations. The refuge is a large piece of land that is fenced in and the cats are free to roam outside. Inside the main house are the newer cats or the ones that may need special attention and then they make their way to the other area once healed. The cats have baskets, beds, toys, treats and all kinds of areas to sleep. There is also a building where the kittens live and you have to go in with a volunteer. Siglinda makes pottery as well and all of the proceeds go to the cats. They are always happy to have volunteers. If you wish to donate, they created an amazon wish list with certain items for the cats. The visiting hours are noon to 3pm and the cats love visitors. read more

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The Goathouse Refuge does a wonderful job of saving cats and kittens from being euthanized in animal control shelters throughout N.C. and upper S.C. It often takes in cats displaced in hurricanes and other natural disasters from other states. It is a nonprofit that relies solely on donations to meet the needs of these animals. What that means is that at times they don't have the funding to give every cat a dental cleaning, etc., but they do significantly improve the lives of the cats they take in by feeding them the very best food and providing emergency vet care. No shelter is perfect, but the Goathouse continues to update and improve as guidelines change for the care of the kitties. Those who are critical of Goathouse need to volunteer their time and talents there, or at least support it financially. Care of these precious animals is the responsibility of society as a whole, not just that of the founder and the workers there. Jump in and make a difference. I have. read more

I have adopted 2 cats from Goathouse Refuge, which is a no-kill shelter. The first cat, Jorge, I had for 7 months, but he never adjusted to my small apartment. We even tried medication, but after the first 3 days, he was too smart to take the medication, whether in capsule or liquid form. I tried everything: interactive toys, leaving the radio on when I was away, etc. He was just unhappy and expressed it loudly which was very hard to take. Finally, after working with the people at Goathouse and my vet, I gave up and returned him to Goathouse. He seems happier now back at the shelter. A few weeks later, I started cat shopping again. After MUCH deliberation and consulting with Goathouse staff and volunteers, I have a new cat. Her name is Foxy and she is a real sweetheart. She is much mellower than Jorge, and has a very quiet meow; you can barely hear it; it is more like a mouse squeak. We get along famously. She either sleeps with me or on a chair near the bed. The volunteers and staff at Goathouse have been wonderful through all of this. Did I mention this is a cage-free shelter? Yet somehow they manage to find and identify one cat among hundreds. Amazing! Everyone has been very pleasant and helpful to me and my friends each and every time I have been there. Clearly, they love the cats and love their work. I couldn'y ask for nicer or more helpful people to work with at a shelter. read more

Love cats and love Goathouse. Siglinda and her team dedicate their life to take care of them cat here, so you and I can have a chance to adopt healthy happy cats. I visited Goathouse a while back and felt in love, really admired their devotion to help animals especially cats. I have 4 cats now. I wish I could take home more, but taking them home is not the only way to help; sponsorship, volunteer, and donation are very important to shelter like Goat house that is what I am doing to help. Hope that you will visit Goat house, and help animals in need when you can. read more

If you need a place to take cats who need a home I wouldn't recommend this place. Solely because of the fact they tell you they can take them in, then say they may be able to and if they can't they may know someone who can only to not return your e-mails. I have two cats that need a good safe home. Was told they could take them, then told they should be able to and if they couldn't they may know someone who can take them in. Iv e-mailed and get no response. Message someone who works there on Facebook multiple times and no response. I don't know about the place itself as far as if the animals are taken care of or the adoption process. I just know as far as them taking in your cats I wouldn't waste the time. read more

https://indyweek.com/news/truth-goathouse-refuge/ I direct attention to this 2013 article because the same patterns continue. I adopted in March 2018 after a bizarrely, disproportional application process given the level of disarray at the refuge. Once I brought the cat home, he had continuous diarrhea, inside and outside the litter box. Once he was comfortable enough to come out from underneath my bed (which was almost three weeks that the refuge attributed to his traumatic past) I took him to the vet for his wellness check. In addition to the high level of stress the vet immediately noticed, he was diagnosed with stomatitis. One tooth was already rotting, and he needed nearly $300 worth of medication on the spot. The vet at VCA was excellent with us and described the level of resource needed in time and finances. I paid the initial round of medication and told Goathouse immediately that I did not have the required resources. Goathouse said they would pay for the $1000 plus surgery -- nice, I guess, and also a bandaid for a much larger problem. They also couldn't get an appointment with "their vet" for about two months. They pointed fingers without taking responsibility throughout the entire process. After multiple rounds of shaming, mostly from Siglinda, I returned Samson to Goathouse in April. Upon his return, Siglinda suggested his diarrhea was from the food I was feeding him. It's Nov -- Samson is still listed for adoption without any medical update to his description. He was to be seen by their vet (for the surgery he needed?) but I am not confident that ever happened or will -- nightmare and, ironically, inhumane. read more

I cannot express my gratitude towards Siglinda and her helpers enough! It's not every day you come across a cat sanctuary that allows their animals to roam freely outdoors and in. These cats aren't crammed into cages that are smaller than they are, and they aren't force fed the cheap garbage that you find in stores. I volunteered there once, and I immediately felt welcomed by all of the cats and the people. It's hard to believe how incredibly peaceful and quiet the cats are considering the fact that there are over 200 cats there. The entire property is magical, I've never seen anything like it! I got my cat Augusto from the Refuge and he is the sweetest boy I've ever met. When I adopted this sweetheart, I thought he would have infinite health and behavioral problems that I would have to spend a fortune dealing with. Nope! He is the healthiest cat I've owned. Goathouse takes better care of their cats than most owners that I know. I am so happy that I found this place. The cats here are so lucky to have been rescued from all of the horrible fates that they would have experienced. read more

Mismanaged, chaotic, unhealthy environment for so many cats, and poorly organized. The owner is a lunatic, hoarder. Attempted to adopt two kittens from them over two years ago. They came home the first time with ring-worm and no medicine (which was promised to come with them). When I called to complain I was told I needed to bring them back until they were better. So I did. A month later, after one call a week to check in and they still weren't better, I went to visit them. Goat House had been keeping them in the same cage so they had kept passing the ring worm back and forth for the last month! it was even worse than when I dropped them off! I went home really upset and called animal control services and asked them about health laws and regulations. They heard my story and they decided that someone should be sent over there to check things out. Nothing came of it. Apparently, because it is privately owned and completely volunteer run, it was fine for her to do as she wished. Another month goes by and I had practically given up on adopting these kittens that I had already paid two hundred for. I finally get a call that they are "ready to go home". I go to pick them up and they still have ring worm! They claim it's "practically gone" I just needed to give them meds, which they actually provided this time. As I am about to walk out the door, never to return she asks me if I called animal control on them. I told her yes, on account that the kittens were sick for over two months and were still sick. She started screaming at me. My house mate, who was with me, started screaming back at her. I left because that's dumb and dramatic, and I just wanted to go home with some kittens. We left after a screaming war. Apparently, the owner told my house mate that we should never come back (not a problem). When we got home, however, I quickly learned that these two kittens were not even fixed in all that time, because they both went into heat within hours of getting comfortable. That was the straw that broke the horses back. I called them told them I wanted my money back and they needed to come pick up these kittens immediately. Two days later (of course it took that long) someone came and got them. I never got my money back. I figured it was worth my time to just never go there again and warn people against giving them their business. The owner is psychotic, and the place is a filthy mess. I know a lot of people who have had great experiences there, but not me, and I doubt I am the only one. read more

I was set on adopting from goathouse after volunteering here once because the cats are so well cared for and they don't put any cats down. The cats are given a huge outdoor and indoor area to run around in, only new cats or cats with health problems are in cages and the cages are really clean. So after my boyfriend and I saved up enough money for the hefty pet fee my apt complex charges, we went to goathouse. It took us almost 45 min to find the right cat! it's a bit overwhelming I must say, since there are over 200 cats and kittens! We weren't sure if we wanted a cat or a kitten but we looked at as many as we could and finally decided on a little gray kitten around 6 months or so so he wasn't tiny or anything, and informed the worker there. She proceeded to tell us all these things we didn't know about ahead of time. 1) we might have to wait because he might be deemed "too young" for adoption (despite being so big!) 2) we would have to wait for a house visit and worst of all: 3) kittens can only be adopted in pairs! These were all enough reasons to turn us away. We were set on the kitten we picked out, we didn't want to adopt any of the older cats because they were used to being outside and we weren't sure if they were potty trained. we definitely didn't want to get a second kitten because our pet fee would be even more at our apartment and our place is just too small for two cats. and we wanted to get a kitten asap because I had 2 weeks off before i had to start with my new job and wanted to train the cat while i had the time. It was a terribly sad experience to have picked out a cat and then walk away from it. Now I know why they only adopt around 20 cats a year! We walked into the orange county animal services and adopted a kitten and got to take it home the next day. I would only recommend this place if your cat will be outside or if you want 2 older kittens. and if you have the time and patience to wait for a home visit. read more

The Goathouse Refuge is a beautiful, peaceful cat sanctuary located in Pittsboro, NC. It is home to around 250 cats, who roam the fenced-in grounds. All of the socialized kitties are up for adoption, and the Goathouse adopts out around 10-20 cats a month. It is not always necessary to adopt out kittens in pairs, but it is preferred if there are no other animals in the house, because kittens are very playful and social and they desire companionship. I have been volunteering at the Goathouse for four years, and I enthusiastically recommend the refuge as a place to visit and find a new companion. read more

This is a nice place for anyone considering adopting a cat or just wanting to stop by to give the cats some attention They have hundreds of cats and I'm sure could use some volunteers to help out occasionally as well. read more

this is a fantastic cat refuge with lots of open spaces for the cats to roam and for you to interact while finding your forever kitty. A bit out of the way, but once you get there, wow! The cats seem very happy there with the outside roaming areas, and the people are very friendly and helpful. The recommend adopting 2 cats but we just adopted 1 and she is awesome! I am forever grateful to this shelter and hardily support it's efforts in creating a nurturing no kill shelter. read more

I thought this was the most wonderful place. The cats were so free to be themselves. I don't know of another refuge where they are so well taken care of. It comes very near to being like a real home. Everyone who I met seemed to truly love the cats. Each cat had personal space as well freedom to roam. Of course there were special needs cats that were in cages. I would loved to be able to adopt several, but I all ready have three. Hope this refuge can continue for ever. read more

My husband and I visited the Goathouse on numerous occasions, first just out of curiosity, then for a fundraising event, then to donate some items. Each time we were pleased with our experiences, not like the distressing visits to other community shelters (kill and no-kill). At the time, we already had 3 cats, so we weren't in the market to adopt another cat. Therefore, we chose to help out by donating funds and material goods. The place is awesome, with indoor and outdoor facilities including quarantine facilities for ill cats. I was really surprised to read the negative piece on the place in the INDY newspaper as my impromptu visits NEVER resulted in me observing any of the medical mismanagement reported. Goathouse was then, and continues to be an invaluable no-kill shelter, but always in need of financial donates and loyal volunteers. Needing to adopt 2 kitties is a practice most animal organizations advocate - it helps with adoption numbers and is also good for the adoptees to feel more safe in an unfamiliar adopted environment AND they have playtime buddies when the owners are away. Many think cats don't need attention, they are wrong. Even my "semi-feral" cat who eventually adopted my garage (ran away from owner down the street and lived in woods behind my house for months) would wait for me at my garage, walk me to my mailbox, and eventually allowed me to pet him and even pick him up (this took 5 years of building up trust). Adopting an animal from a shelter /elsewhere comes with its fair share of "surprises" as you never know all the circumstances. My "semi-feral" cat always attacked my black boots - I later saw his previous owner kicking their newly adopted dog - guess what, the owner had on black boots. Our other 2 were adopted together at 12 weeks of age from the Durham Cat Hospital and both had health issues, in fact when we took one to the NC Vet school , a resident in training doc was very nasty and almost killed her. We learned that NO animal facility is perfect in space or medical treatment. The person who complained of "surprise requirements" levied by the Goathouse was luckily screened out from adopting. Just because someone "wants" a cat and the thought that one should be happy to "find it a home" doesn't mean that person should be a cat owner. That is how my garage adoptee found me-he ran away from his owner, and for good reason. The Goathouse free-roaming shelter concept is unique for NC, akin to Hemmingway's Key West home. The Goathouse Refuge is run by a super-caring individual who demands excellence from her staff (as opposed to "just OK" care). I applaud her firing "volunteers" who grumble about the demanding environment - there are way too many in NC who "settle" for mediocre. read more