CUMBERLAND — A no-kill shelter devoted to finding homes for cats and kittens is holding its annual fundraiser next weekend.

HART, the Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine at 302 Range Road, is collecting donations for the Litterbox Auction, to be held at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Tickets are $25 in advance at hartofme.com, or a check in that amount can be sent to HART, P.O. Box 351, Cumberland, ME 04021. Tickets will be $35 at the door.

There will be at least 300 items for people to bid on, including restaurant gift certificates, spa services, jewelry, men’s items, and home and garden items from around greater Portland. Cottage rentals on Frye Island and Highland Lake are also available, along with a vacation rental on Florida’s Anna Maria Island.

Coast 93.1’s Ethan Minton will host the event, which features appetizers and a cash bar, as well as music from the Sweet Adelines.

“HART is a no-kill shelter completely run by volunteers, so all money raised goes directly to care for the constant population of 125 cats and 50 to 100 kittens in our care, including veterinary expenses, vaccinations, medicines, food, supplies, and heat,” HART President Sarah McNamara said in a press release. “HART raises all of its funds from adoption fees, (and) various fundraising activities, as well as from individual donations and foundations.

“HART is unique in part because cats are not kept in cages, but live freely in different rooms at the shelter and are able to run, play, and bond with one another,” she added. “People looking to adopt a HART cat have an opportunity to interact with and observe the cats, learning their true personalities, ensuring their home is the right fit. The support of the community will help the shelter over the upcoming winter.”

The Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine also seeks to raise funds through the “HART Culinary Purrfections Cookbook.” It is the first cookbook the shelter has produced, and it includes “recipes of all types which were submitted by HART volunteers, friends, and family,” according to McNamara.

The books are being sold for $15, and the shelter is also offering custom HART aprons and mugs.

The books are available at the shelter each Wednesday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they are also available by contacting Sue Bailey at 846-6648 or SuBailey@aol.com. They are also being offered a events like the Holiday Craft Fair at Greely High School on Nov. 17 and the Holiday Craft Fair at North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth on Dec. 1.

HART, a non-profit corporation, helped 684 cats and kittens find new homes last year, and took in 784 surrenders, according to the shelter. All felines are spayed or neutered, made current on vaccinations, and tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.