First, why would you need to bathe them? Unless you're showing them, or
they get into something funky, there's really no need to routinely
bathe a cat. Especially if the cat is going to hate it.
But, if it becomes necessary, at the shelter we've always used a very
mild baby shampoo. I suppose there are all kinds of products especially
for bathing cats on the market, though.

Sherry

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Can't comment about products, but as to technique, put the cat in a
dry sink/tub and use a very gentle stream of mildly warm water from a
hand held nozzle to wet the cat down. Do not get the cat's head wet.
Shut off the water and lather up. Then use the same gentle stream to
rinse well. Make sure the drain is open while wetting and rinsing the
cat. Water building up around the feet will lead to panic.

I've had cats I could bathe but I didn't do it very often, and I've had cats
who tried to rip off my face so I never bathed them again.

I bathed mine today actually and generally sit her in the sink with just her
back paws in unless she'll let me put all of them in.  The water is very
slow running and doesn't splash her.  I just  hold her there and rinse her
with my hands and keep it very calming.  Talk to her softly and pet her and
keep the water slow. Normally she'll scurry around and I'll hold onto her
and just pet her for a minute here and there.  Today she was meowing like
crazy and actually clung to me like a baby would.  She had a front paw on
each shoulder and a back paw on each side of me and her head tucked under my
chin.  Now you can imagine this makes it tricky to finish.  However, she
just sat there the rest of the time I lathered her up.  She didn't move
around she didn't scratch she just sat there and let me lather her up.
After that when I put her back on the counter she hung over my arm in an
almost standing position with her front paws over my outstretched arm.  I
rinsed her with my hand that way.  And bundled her up in a towel after and
she fell asleep while in the towel, which is usual for her.  As weird as it
sounds, it was actually the easiest bath I've given her, minus the first
minute or two before she latched onto me.  She was so calm when I was
holding her.  She's never done that before so I don't know what brought it
on.  It was very odd so I thought I'd share.  Perhaps if your kitty has a
similar comforting position, it would be worth a try.  As far as shampoos, I
use a generic kitty shampoo/conditioner.  It makes her coat very shiny.  I
also don't wash her head.  I tried it once and she was so scared by it I
don't do it anymore.  As a rule, she also rarely gets a bath.  I've had her
for a year and I believe this was her 4th.  I was hoping to stop some
shedding actually....btw, it didn't work all that well.

Beth

Most cats can take care of almost all their own cleaning needs.
Exceptions are mostly manmade: tar, motor-oil, etc.  And of course the
occasional "natural" cause like skunk or depression.  Occasionally
you'll have to cut something out of their fur.

Personally I wouldn't try if the cat didn't absolutely need it; I have 4
cats; there aren't enough band-aids in the world....

pat