My retreating cats are hitted by forwarding cavs

Just a guess but maybe your speed has to be higher than theirs? I really have no clue but I know there is certain situations where back cats are hit by forward cav (like when you are retreating to the starting point in an oasis battle)

im gunna have to guess that you did not account for tech and enhance changes in speed and that his speed was actually faster... but retreating cats should get hit by forward cavs unless there is a blocker

Because the order of battle goes faster troops move, slower troops move, THEN attacks, technically backwards cats shouldn't be hit by forwarding cav... there are certain instances I've seen it happen and certain instances I've seen it not happen though