Some people only think of cheating as physical act of intimacy. He likely does not consider it cheating because he wasn’t sleeping with a person.

Plus honestly what cheater would tell you that they are cheaters? It’s a given they’d tell you they aren’t. I think the very fact he kept telling you he isn’t a cheater is a suspect. Who even needs to say that? I’d not give any weight to such words. I never told anyone I am not a cheater. I think it’s obvious. It’s not something someone needs to say. It’s like saying “I am a good person”. Who needs to say that? One is either good trustworthy person or they aren’t. Why even say it?

Words don’t mean much