I agree that anything requiring restraint is stressful--whether it be a bath
or a combing out. But "hardly ever" does not mean *never*; as there are
sensible reasons for a cat needing a bath.

An older cat will often stop grooming itself for a number of reasons--in
which case a bath *may be* necessary.  But, of course, how you do it depends
on the cat.

Obviously if you introduce her to a deluge of water, it will have a contrary
effect to your intent; so, the easier you make it on her the better.  If you
have the time and patience, you can use the sponge-bath method, and that
works best with two people involved.  The cat has to cooperate also, so
hands on firmly but gently is recommended.

Try to be as unobtrusive as possible and take it slow and easy.

Most, but not all cats are difficult to bathe.  I have a 17-year old Maine
Coon with stomatitis who does not groom beyond his front feet and immediate
facial area.  He has an especially oily coat, and as such, he needs bathing
at least once a month.  He's a real tough guy and calmly takes his the same
way we wash the dog: soaped up and rinsed in the bath tub with water poured
over him from a bowl. He's the exception to the rule, however, and I
certainly don't recommend that method as a general rule.

Bathing him is the easy part.  Blow drying is the most difficult and time
consuming.

Some of my cats stand still for manual brushing and/or combing (but not
all), and we use various devices as described by the poster below.   Cats
generally have a grooming time-limit that you learn very quickly.  If you
adhere to that limit, you will have greater success.  When they tell you
time is up, leave them and return a bit later and re-start the clock.

--Geno