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My cat licked dish soap after a bath. Is it harmful for her?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | 2 years and 1 month old

Hi, I tried to wash my cat with dishsoap, but she escaped and I didnt wash it out from her. Could it be harmful for her when she ingest it? Thank you.

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 5th, 2016

There is a chance of toxicity with ingesting dish soap. Dish soap is listed as a non-ionic detergent, and you will see vomiting and diarrhea if she digests it. I recommend trying to get her to wash the rest off, and the monitor her. If she does starting vomiting and having diarrhea, you need to take her to your vet right away. Your vet will have to administer treatment, as inducing vomiting is not recommended because it will do more harm than good. Next time you wash your cat, I'd recommend a pet shampoo to do it.

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Never wash a cat unless told by a veterinarian or as an emergency measure when the cat came in contact with poisonous agents. That said dish soap is not so poisonous,. however your cat will try and clean herself and ingest most of it. Try catching her and rinsing her INSIDE with the door closed. Make sure you dry her off as much as possible. If she gets lethargic or vomits or otherwise does not feel good,. take her to a veterinarian. for an exam.

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    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 31st, 2019

    Hello. Soap can cause irritation to the oral mucosa & stomach. If Millie is looking & acting well, no drooling, foaming, gagging or pawing at her mouth, then it is unlikely she ingested much. If she did ingest some, most likely it will result in diarrhea. But if she should start vomiting or refuse all food & water, she may need to be hospitalized for a day or so for fluids to be administered. But if she continues to eat & drink normally, she should be just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    Answered By Summer Walker, DVM, MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 11th, 2017

    It would be best to try to decontaminate the area if possible. You can take a wet washcloth if it is a small region and try to wipe off the soap, or if Astra is okay with bathing you can perform a quick bath to remove it. Dishwashing soap can be irritating to the mouth and stomach if ingested, so you may see her salivating excessively or experience some vomiting if she does lick it from her fur.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on August 29th, 2017

    The shampoo may cause some gastrointestinal upset if ingested. You will likely need to rinse her again when she returns. Rinsing her in the tub with the bathroom door closed would be recommended. If she does have some GI upset, fast her for 12-24 hours then feed a bland diet until symptoms resolve before transitioning slowly to her regular diet. You can sprinkle some dry food into a tin and rattle it while calling her name to coax her out.

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