About
A cattery built
on love for cats.
Howlish has been boarding cats in County Durham since 1989. Here is the story of how it all began, and the people who keep it going today.
Our Story
Where it began
Howlish Cats began in 1989, when Ann Parry decided to open a cattery on the land beside her home. Word spread quietly at first, then more quickly, until Howlish had become one of the most trusted names in County Durham.
Over 35 years, the cattery has grown from twenty to thirty individual homes. The faces have changed, but the commitment has not: cats cared for in exceptional conditions, by people who treat them as their own.
Set in a peaceful location in the heart of County Durham, the surroundings bring a calm that cats respond to immediately. Every home has its own indoor and outdoor space, fully enclosed and secure, so your cat can explore, rest, and simply be at ease.
1989
Founded
Ann Parry opened Howlish on the land beside her home. Her husband George built it by hand: twenty units, each large enough to keep a family of cats together.
1990s
Word spread
The reputation grew steadily across County Durham. Cats began arriving from across the region, and Howlish became one of the premier catteries in the North East.
2023
New hands, same heart
Richard and Janine took over, continuing the same standard of care that Ann and George had established over more than three decades.
Today
30 private homes
The cattery has grown from twenty to thirty individual homes. The same love, the same standards, and the same Howlish welcome.
Howlish today
Where your furbabies are cared for as our own.
Today the cattery has grown to 30 individual homes, each with its own indoor and outdoor area. The reputation built over four decades remains the same: cats cared for in exceptional conditions, by people who treat them as their own.
The cattery is now run by Richard and Janine, who took over in 2023 and who absolutely adore cats. That love is the thread that has run through Howlish from the very beginning.
We look forward to welcoming you and your cat to Howlish. Visitors are always welcome, any day of the week.
We treat your cats as our own.
That's not a slogan. That's a promise.
About Richard and Janine
We have loved cats all our lives. Between us we have 8 cats of our own, and with extended family who run their own local cattery, it has always been in the blood and in our hearts.
When the opportunity came to take up the stewardship of Howlish, we did not hesitate. We are honoured to carry forward what Ann and George started more than 35 years ago.
Our reputation was built one stay at a time, by people who took genuine pride in doing things properly. All you need to do is relax, knowing your cat is in the very best of hands.
Come and see for yourself