"I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I…

Why do cats sometimes lick a bar of soap? Cats clean themselves, but they don’t use soap for that. Is it because cats use swear words and have to “wash out the mouth with soap”?

“Why does my cat lick the bar of soap? Yuk” was posted on X/Twitter by RM on January 8, 2011. “Why is my cat licking a bar of soap? Weirdo” was posted on X/Twitter by Diana on April 14, 2011. “Why does my cat lick my lava soap? #catproblems” was posted on X/Twitter by eraserhead42 on June 4, 2012.

“i just saw my cat licking a bar of soap and assumed she was punishing herself for swearing” was posted on X/Twitter by abigail evans on May 19, 2020. “I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume she’s a weirdo or she’s punishing herself for swearing again” was posted on X/Twitter by Ghostface Kryllah on November 15, 2020. “I caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume he’s a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again” was posted on X/Twitter by Ghostface Kryllah on November 2, 2021.

Wikipedia: Washing mouth out with soap
Washing out the mouth with soap is a traditional form of physical punishment that consists of placing soap, or a similar cleansing agent, inside a person’s mouth so that the person will taste it, inducing what is generally considered an unpleasant experience. This form of punishment was especially common in the United States and United Kingdom from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.

Washing out the mouth with soap is most often used as a response to profanity, lying, biting, tobacco use, or verbal disrespect. It is intended to function both as a symbolic “cleansing” following the infraction and as a deterrent, due to the foul aftertaste.

X/Twitter
RM
@RebeMecomber
Why does my cat lick the bar of soap? Yuk
12:54 PM · Jan 8, 2011

X/Twitter
Diana
@borgqueenbabe
Why is my cat licking a bar of soap? Weirdo
2:57 PM · Apr 14, 2011

X/Twitter
eraserhead42
@jamesIIIsmith
Why does my cat lick my lava soap? #catproblems
11:41 AM · Jun 4, 2012

X/Twitter
spiderwife
@the_spiderwife
Today’s google adventure: “why does my cat lick soap?” No real answer, but at least I’m not alone.
5:57 PM · Dec 21, 2016

X/Twitter
spiderwife
@the_spiderwife
Well the internet solved “why does my cat lick soap” which should have been obvious but I’m still looking for answers to “why does my cat lick toothbrushes” and “why does my cat lick the counter after I cleaned it, it’s a lemon scented product and she hates lemon”
8:42 AM · Jan 26, 2019

X/Twitter
abigail evans
@abigailmevanss
i just saw my cat licking a bar of soap and assumed she was punishing herself for swearing
9:53 PM · May 19, 2020

X/Twitter
Ghostface Kryllah
@kryzazzy
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume she’s a weirdo or she’s punishing herself for swearing again.
12:22 PM · Nov 15, 2020

X/Twitter
Jeff Gamet
@jgamet
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap. While there are valid reasons for doing so (she said bad cat words, she licks her butt), I can’t imagine this was a good life choice for her.
1:52 PM · May 5, 2021

X/Twitter
Ghostface Kryllah
@kryzazzy
I caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume he’s a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again
10:55 AM · Nov 2, 2021

Facebook
Elizabeth Honey Holland is feeling perplexed.
February 7, 2022 at 2:40 PM ·
I JUST SAW A CAT LICKING A BAR OF SOAP…🤔 DONT KNOW IF HE WAS JUST A WEIRDO, OR IF HE WAS PUNISHING HIMSELF FROM SWEARING TOO MUCH…😂🤷🏼‍♀️😼🐈😹

X/Twitter
Ghostface Kryllah
@kryzazzy
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume that he’s either a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again
9:51 AM · Jun 24, 2024

Facebook
Cheryle Yount Casar
July 31, 2025 at 11:15 AM ·
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume that he’s either a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again

X/Twitter
Ghostface Kryllah
@kryzazzy
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume that he’s either a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again
11:39 AM · Feb 4, 2026

Bluesky
MICHEAL
‪@bravestone01.bsky.social‬
I just caught my cat licking a bar of soap and I can only assume that he’s either a weirdo or he’s punishing himself for swearing again
5:25 PM · Feb 4, 2026