Volunteer Spotlight: Kristi Freitager
A Lifetime Love of Cats & a Heart for Fostering
CAR Volunteer Kristi Freitager
For many Chicagoland Animal Rescue volunteers, their journey starts with a single cat. For this dedicated foster and supporter, it started with family—and grew into a lifelong commitment to helping cats in need.
Her connection to CAR began years ago through her daughter, Leah Muller, who has volunteered with the rescue for many years. Along the way, she found herself increasingly involved, helping care for foster cats in Leah’s home and seeing firsthand the impact CAR has on stray, abandoned, and displaced cats.
Larry AKA Socks
In 2009, her family adopted their first CAR alum, Larry (formerly known as Socks). Larry had spent nearly a year waiting in the shelter before finding his forever home, where he was deeply loved until his passing in 2023. That adoption helped cement a lasting bond with the rescue.
Kristi & Luna
Kristi officially stepped into the role of foster at the end of 2021, when CAR had an urgent need for help. A mother cat named Luna had given birth to seven kittens and needed a new foster placement. Luna was understandably overwhelmed—and a bit hard to handle—but with patience, care, and dedication, she found safety and stability. Luna would eventually become a foster fail, and a beloved permanent family member.
A lifelong animal lover, she grew up in small-town Iowa with a father who was a large-animal veterinarian. Cats have always been part of her life, and she’s been a cat owner for more than 25 years. Today, her home is shared with five cats: Ragnar (~13), Zena (~12), Carter (~7), Shadow (~7), and Luna (~6)—a mix of former strays and foster fails who perfectly represent the heart of rescue work.
Through CAR, her volunteer activities include fostering, transporting cats to vet appointments and meet-and-greets, helping care for fosters in her daughter’s home, donating financially, and supporting fundraisers however possible. What keeps her coming back is the incredible variety of feline personalities—and the challenge of helping cats who may be feisty, medically fragile, or just need a little extra patience.
One of the moments she’s most proud of was nursing Luna back to health after she developed FIP, at a time when the disease was almost always fatal, and treatment was only available through underground channels. Thanks to her determination and care, Luna survived and thrived—a powerful reminder of how life-changing foster care can be.
When asked what she believes is CAR’s most important work, her answer is simple and heartfelt: caring for and placing cats who might not otherwise survive, and giving them the chance at long, happy lives with families who truly care.
After years of fostering, adopting, and advocating, her message to anyone considering getting involved is clear:
“Fostering cats is so worth it!”
And CAR couldn’t agree more. 💙
Thank you, Kristi!