Washington Cat Rescue will receive awareness, funds and a lot of laughs Thursday night, as a comedy improv group and Apollo’s Steakhouse team up for dinner theater fundraiser.

The downtown Washington restaurant is known for its fundraisers, donating a percentage of dinner, drinks and entertainment sales to a good cause, but according to Apollo’s owner Angel Borg, this cause is both close to her heart — and her business.

“We have 13 black cats that live under the building, which is probably why the restaurants are all cursed,” Borg laughed.

But because of the local cats, she’s gotten to know the founders of Washington Cat Rescue, Leslie Steele and Nancy O’Neill, as well as the good work they do helping to find solutions for those who inadvertently find themselves with a population of stray or feral cats.

“I think it’s a really smart program that they have,” Borg said, and one she wants to support.

Inner Banks Improv will be performing at the sit-down show. Tickets are $10, half of which the improve group will donate to WCR, along with the restaurant’s 10 percent of all alcohol and food sales made during the event. Food will be served from the restaurant’s regular menu, Borg said.

Washington Cat Rescue’s stated mission is to improve the quality of life for the vast number of stray and feral cats in the county, which has reached epidemic proportions this summer. To have the support of local businesses in invaluable to the nonprofit’s need for funds, O’Neill said.

“We need a lot in the way of volunteers and donations. Angel at Apollo’s offered this evening to us — which was very generous of her — so we’re hoping that that will help a little bit,” O’Neill said.

For Borg, the event is an opportune time to launch a new entertainment plan at the restaurant: dinner theater every third Thursday of the month. So far, the Inner Banks Improv has signed up for the first two Thursday, but Borg said she is looking to book a variety of entertainment — everything from mini-plays to magicians. But the comedy shows have been a big hit, she said.

“What I’ve found is that people like interacting with the comedians. And the whole improv thing is based on audience participation, so this should be fun,” Borg said.

Seating for the show will take place between 6 and 6:45 p.m.

For those interested in volunteering with WCR, adopting or fostering the many adult cats and kittens in their care, call WCR at 252-495-1857.