I recently had to bath my then 6 week old kitty...silly thing went sniffing
and fell into an open tub of engine oil (don't ask - boyfriend copped it for
this one) so i had to get the grease blasting detergent and give her a bath.
Wasn't too bad..looked atrocious and skidded on the sides of the sink trying
to escape but not trying too hard. no biting or clawing thankfully but I
guess if you bath an older kitty there will be a fight on your hands. I
guess as long as they aren't generally afraid of water (being shot with a
spray water bottle will prolly do this) you'd be alright.
personally I wouldn't subject a cat to it unless it were necessary, and
engine oil was pretty necessary (she was staining my carpet and sheets
dammit! lol)

On Sat 31 Dec 2005 02:48:46a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Cor blimey
mate?

For a period of several months we routinely bathed two of our recues who came
to us with ringworm.  They never balked and remained relaxed.  Our oldest cat
has always joined us in the shower.  However, my alpha male who is otherwise
very laid back and sweet, would claw me to pieces if I attempted to bathe
him.

I used to give my cats baths regularly (before I had six and that would be
an all day affair)  I figured that if they ever needed one it would at least
be something they were used to and not be so bad.  It did work.  It also
reduces the allergens in the house - but that is a different post

I do it in the bathroom - less room to escape, and put a milk crate in the
tub so they have a place to stand out of the water.  Fill the tub with
enough water to reach their bellies (or more if you want), dunk them, wet
them down, let them climb up on the crate.  Keep their head facing the back
wall of the tub.  Scruff if necessary. Talk to them and tell them what you
are doing is a good thing, and you appreciate their being good.  Work quick.
Use a shampoo designed only for cats, or one that is  nontoxic, and that
doesn't suds a lot.  Dunk the cat again, let him climb up on the crate, and
then I use a cup to dump more water on the soapy spots.  I try not to run
more water at any time, cause it is loud and cats have very sensitive ears,
and they are unhappy to begin with.

Again, keep adjusting the cat so it is looking at the back of the tub.
Ignore the screaming.  Do not let the cat know this stresses you out, or
he'll feed on that and scream more trying to get you to never do this again.
Stay calm, talk calm, work quickly.  It does work with out  bloodshed.

and while we are talking about cat grooming, don't forget to check the nails
to see if they need clipping, and also to brush their teeth.  Very important
if you don't want large vet bills for teeth removal when they are older.  In
the day cats didn't live very long in general, so their teeth lasted, but
with cats regularly hitting their teens, it isn't a bad idea to get into the
habit early.  A finger tip brush, and cat dental paste, rubbed on the
outside of their teeth a couple of times a week will go a  long way in
saving their teeth from dental disease.  I was told their rough tongues get
the inside of them, but they can't reach the outside.  Most cats like the
taste of the paste, and won't mind the invasion of their body THAT much.
You still have to pin them down, but I give treats afterwards so I am
quickly forgiven.