The previous life of cats...?

lemongrove....I also used to have a neighbour's cat who use to come into my house, play with my cats' toys, then take one home! My cats used to just sit and watch....

Phoenix....your cat is eccentric! One of mine used to bring me various gifts - pebbles, pegs, the usual birds, mice and frogs (all still alive), and once, a sausage from someone's BBQ

Phoenix try placing a tall stool next to the sink, he may start helping you by washing up?

A neighbour’s cat used to come in the house and steal cat toys. A real life cat burglar.

Elegran

My cat doesn’t pilfer dishcloths etc, but she loves to roll around on the newly washed kitchen floor. It’s not a very common occurrence, so it must be quite a novelty for her. ?

My cat has a thing about metal pan scrubbers too, I’ve no idea where he takes them. He also likes to carry around wrapped boiled sweets.
Your cat sounds lovely phoenix a proper little character.
My DD’s Cat when she was a lot younger used to pilfer from neighbours, hair scrunchies, combs, hairbrushes, socks, pegs, a goldfish on one occasion and the most unusual a partly carved joint of beef! Nowadays she’s happy with cotton buds.

Does your washing-up liquid smell of pilchards?