UK's 'cheating cat' hotspots named — as they stray from home for extra food and cuddles

UK's 'cheating cat' hotspots named — as they stray from home for extra food and cuddles Research has crowned Britain's top hotspot for wandering cats as the cheeky felines regularly sneak into neighbouring homes for extra food, naps, and cuddles The UK’s ‘cheating cat’ capital has been revealed – with Cambridge home to the highest number of ‘furrlandering’ felines. A poll of 2,000 non-cat owners found Leeds and Plymouth also rank as hotspots for cats wandering into neighbouring properties. On average, those living in Cambridge report visits from other people’s cats up to three times a week. The most common theory about why is that the cats are just being nosey (22%). However, 14% of residents believe the cats are drawn to their gardens, while 11% think the cats enjoy the peace and quiet away from home. Overall, the findings suggest Britain is a nation of cat lovers, with one in five (21%) of all those polled admitting they have played with someone else’s four-legged friend. In fact, 13% have even given a regular visitor its own nickname, while one in 10 have welcomed a wandering cat into their home for a cuddle. Hala Sinna, from cat treats brand Dreamies, which commissioned the research, said: “It’s no secret that cats love to wander, and this research playfully reveals how many of them may be leading double lives, from disappearing next door or charming the whole street” “It’s great to see the irresistible appeal, while reminding cat parents everywhere that no matter how much of a trickster their feline may be, having their favourite snacks in the cupboard means there’s no place like home.” The study found the affection goes both ways, as 21% feel happy and special when a cat pays them a visit, with 16% going as far as to say they wish they were their actual owner. And for some non-cat owners, these casual encounters have turned into something more, with 29% agreeing to share cat-sitting duties with the owner after it became a regular visitor. A separate poll of 2,000 cat owners, found their pet’s roaming antics haven’t gone unnoticed. More than a quarter (27%) suspect their cat is ‘cheating’ on them by visiting multiple houses for food, naps or cuddles, while 16% know this to be the case for certain. Among those who are suspicious, 44% say their feline friend disappears for hours at a time, and sometimes even days according to the OnePoll data. One cat owner who has no doubt that their feline is being unfaithful is Kimberley Skinner, whose one-year-old domestic longhair, Muffin, has become a local social media celebrity thanks to his habit of making himself at home all over the village. Kimberley, 40, and her husband Chris Barlow, 49, from Histon, Cambridge, who share daughters Adeline, eight, and Amelie, three, even set up a Facebook page, Muffin The Village Cat, to keep track of his adventures. Residents regularly share sightings of the wandering moggy, 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 village café. Muffin is also known for accompanying villagers on dog walks across nearby fields, and once ventured as far as a local pumpkin patch, where he was discovered perched on a tractor. And it seems Muffin was destined to be an explorer, with Kimberley describing him as the most adventurous kitten in the litter from day one. Hannah Flint, cat behaviour expert at Waltham Pet Science Institute which teamed up with Dreamies added: "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." TOP 5 ‘CHEATING CAT’ CAPITALS: - Cambridge - Leeds - Plymouth - Sheffield - Liverpool