Cambridge unveiled as the UK’s Cat Cheating Capital

DREAMIES™ reveals the top three ways to spot a cheating cat: 

1. They return home from outings with no appetite. Over 40 per cent (44%) of cat owners revealed reduced appetite as a give away sign their furry friend had been snacking elsewhere
2. They pull the ultimate vanishing act: They routinely disappear for hours, or even sometimes days at a time. 44 per cent of cat owners said their cats had gone missing for long periods of time which raised a red furrlandering flag
3. A shift in the daily schedule: Cats are master manipulators, but they aren't great at hiding their tracks. A quarter (25%) of cat owners admitted they noticed their cat was receiving cuddles and snacks elsewhere, as they changed their daily routine. 

Many cat owners have developed a number of tactics to lure them back, from shaking their favourite snacks (38 per cent), such as irresistible DREAMIES™ treats, to knocking on a neighbour’s door to check if they’re there (29 per cent).

The scandalous survey has also highlighted that over half (55%) of non-cat-owning homes admit to having had a neighbour's cat wander into their home. And for pet parents themselves, nearly a quarter (24%) of households have even caught their cat red-pawed, in the very act of leaving a neighbour’s house. In fact, 13 per cent have even given a regular visitor its own nickname, while one in 10 have welcomed a wandering cat into their home for a cuddle.

One cat owner who has no doubt that their cat is being unfaithful is Kimberley Skinner, whose one-year-old domestic longhair, Muffin, has become a local celebrity thanks to his habit of making himself at home all over the Cambridgeshire village, Histon.

Kimberley, 40 and her family set up a Facebook page, Muffin The Village Cat, to keep track of his adventures and residents now regularly share sightings of Muffin. Whether he's curled up in a neighbour's house, making an appearance at a local football match, popping into the beauticians or stopping by the local café.

His popularity even earned him the unofficial title of chief receptionist at the local primary school, where he's often found snoozing on the front desk, much to the delight of pupils and staff.

Hala Sinna, DREAMIES™ Brand Director says “It’s no secret that cats love to wander, and this campaign playfully reveals how many of them may be leading double lives - from disappearing next door or charming the whole street! The campaign celebrates the brand’s irresistible appeal, while reminding cat parents everywhere that no matter how much of a trickster their feline may be, having DREAMIES™ treats in the cupboard means there’s no place like home.”

Hannah Flint, Cat Behaviour Expert at Waltham Pet Science Institute remarks "While pet cats often stay close to home, many roam over 500 metres, making neighbouring houses part of their territory. Their natural instinct to meet their needs in the most convenient way means they may frequently stop by other homes during their daily adventures. To ask, cats use a meow reserved almost exclusively for humans, echoing the call kittens make to their mothers and appealing to our nurturing instincts."

Guidance for cheating cats, their parents and neighbours: 

• Cats are curious and can have a wide territory that they roam, so ensure your cat is microchipped and wears an ID badge on their collar to they can be identified if they ever get lost
• It’s nice to be popular, but remember to stick to stroking other cats instead of snacks. Some cats have special diets and feeding them without the cat parent’s permission may stop them maintaining a healthy diet or weight
• Never keep a neighbour’s cat inside - a cat that’s free to roam needs to be free to go home
• If you own cat is a fan of Dreamies (and which cat isn’t?!) remember to check out the portion advice and adjust your cat’s main meal to help them maintain a healthy weight and balanced diet

-ENDS- 

Notes to Editor 
*Research Methodology: DREAMIES polled 2,000 cat owners, and 2,000 non-cat owners in June 2026, via OnePoll.