Our Story

Close-up of a white cat with green eyes, pink nose, and pink ears, lying on a speckled grey surface.
Close-up of a domestic cat with white, gray, and black fur, lying on a textured beige fabric surface with a patterned curtain and window blinds in the background.
Four kittens resting on a patterned blanket with various textures.

Who We Are

Must Love Cats Rescue (MLCR) is a volunteer-run, foster-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping cats and kittens find safe, loving homes. Serving Northern Virginia and beyond, MLCR provides compassionate care for cats who have often experienced neglect, abandonment, or other difficult circumstances. We also partner with local TNR (trap-neuter-return) groups to place kittens who come from feral circumstances.

All cats in our care live in foster homes, where they are given time to heal, feel secure, and show their true personalities. This approach allows us to better understand each cat’s needs and helps ensure thoughtful, lasting matches between cats and adopters.

All cats in our care stay in foster homes until adopted or continue in our care for the remainder of their lives.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide responsible, foster-based rescue and to support both cats and adopters for the long term. We believe rescue should be compassionate, intentional, and centered on the well-being of each individual cat.

A Foster-Based Approach

Must Love Cats Rescue operates entirely through a network of volunteer foster homes. Cats and kittens are cared for in real homes rather than a shelter environment, allowing them to decompress, receive individualized attention, and thrive in a safe setting.

Because many of the cats who come into our care have faced difficult or uncertain beginnings, we take great care to thoughtfully match each cat with the right home and circumstances. Successful adoptions are built on understanding, patience, and support.

Medical Care & Community Partnerships

MLCR works closely with a network of generous veterinary partners who provide essential services such as vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping, and medical treatment at reduced cost to the rescue.

Medical care is provided based on each cat’s age, health, and needs. Some services may occur prior to adoption, while others are completed at the appropriate time afterward, particularly for young kittens. This flexible, responsible approach allows us to prioritize each cat’s well-being while making rescue sustainable.

Beyond Adoption Day

What sets Must Love Cats Rescue apart is our commitment to staying connected. Adoption is not the end of our relationship — it is the beginning of a lifelong connection.

We support our adopters when questions or challenges arise, and we remain invested in the cats who pass through our care. We believe that rescue is not just about placement, but about responsibility, trust, and community.

A person with glasses resting on their head and partially visible face holding a large, fluffy, multicolored cat with stripes and patches of black, brown, and orange. They are seated in a room with a light-colored wall decorated with aquatic-themed drawings and writings, including colorful fish and seaweed, with a green litter box in the corner.

Meet Our Founder, Yvonne Feustel

Must Love Cats Rescue was founded by Yvonne Feustel, a lifelong animal advocate with more than 25 years of experience in animal rescue. Yvonne brings deep hands-on knowledge to every aspect of MLCR’s work, including foster care coordination, medical planning, adoption support, and community outreach.

Her approach to rescue is rooted in compassion, responsibility, and thoughtful placement. Under her leadership, MLCR has grown into a foster-based organization supported by more than 40 dedicated volunteers and fosters, along with loving adopters and veterinary partners.

Yvonne believes every cat deserves safety, dignity, and a loving home — and that support should continue well beyond adoption day.