Black Cat Ball raises money for Purrfect Pals

Organizers from an Arlington-based cat shelter and sanctuary raised about $130,000 during its annual fundraiser.

BELLEVUE — Organizers from an Arlington-based cat shelter and sanctuary raised about $130,000 during its annual fundraiser.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter and Sanctuary held its 12th Annual Black Cat Ball at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Approximately 260 guests attended the event, which served as the biggest fundraiser of the year for the no-kill sanctuary, foster and hospice care center for homeless cats.

“It went really well,” ball co-chair Dawn Ritter said. “There was a little bit of everything from $15 items to items worth $4,700.”

Auction items included vacation packages, cat toys, restaurant gift certificates and art work, Ritter said.

A Gala dinner also took place.

The funds raised during the ball go toward the shelter’s operating budget.

Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter and Sanctuary finds homes for more than 2,000 cats and performs more than 3,000 spay and neuter surgeries each year. More than 250 cats permanently live at the shelter, which was founded in 1988.

“The people seemed pretty happy — we had a good turnout,” Ritter said.