Also, a friend told me that declawing actually removes part of the
bone, so I wouldn't get my cat declawed. How would it affect playing
with them? I forget if cats' claws are always sticking out, or if they
just come out when they're playing etc.

he asked I gave an example

My cats get a bath almost weekly due to their curiosity.  I am in the shower
and all of the will sit at the shower door going nuts that thye can't get to
me.  Now mind you this has been going on for years.  I open the shower door
or they pull on the door till it opens ususlly them.   Tthey all come
rushing in.  Than realize that death from of above is happening.  They run
out the door drowned rats go find mommy or somebody and complain loudly
while drying themselves that daddy got them wet.

Curosity killed the cat sort of to say

http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/general-care.shtml#bathing
Bathing
You should not ordinarily need to bath a cat. Cats are normally very good
about cleaning themselves, and for most cats, that's all the bathing they
will ever need. Reasons for giving them a bath are:
 a.. The cat has got something poisonous on its fur,
 b.. It doesn't take care of its coat as normal cats do,
 c.. You are allergic and need to bathe it to keep allergens down,
 d.. The cat is a show cat and about to be shown,
 e.. You are giving it a flea, tick, or lice dip,
 f.. It is unusually dirty for some reason (perhaps bad weather).
If you just trimmed your cat's claws, now is a good time. Having someone
help you hold the cat definitely helps.
If your cat is long haired, groom it *before* bathing it. Water will just
tighten any mats already in the coat.

Bathing methods:

 a.. Get everything ready. Warm water, selected bathing place (you might
consider the kitchen sink as being easier on your back and facilitating
control of the cat). Having water already in the tub or sink reduces the
potential terror to the cat at the sound and sight of the water coming out
of the faucet. Put a towel or rubber mat on the bottom of the tub or sink to
give your cat something to sink its claws into. If you have spray
attachments, either to the sink or the tub, those will help you soak the cat
efficiently. You want to use soap formulated for cat skin, as human-type
soaps will remove all the essential oils and leave the cat's skin dried out
and susceptible to flea infestations or skin breakouts. There are some soaps
formulated for allergic pet owners. Use sparingly and rinse well after
working through coat.

 b.. The garden sprayer can also be used. Fill an ordinary pressurized
garden sprayer (try a hand-pumped type that does *not* hiss) with warm soapy
water, put cat and sprayer in empty bathtub, and use the trigger wand to
soap the cat with one hand while hanging on to the scruff with the other.
Put the sprayer wand down and work the soapy water into the fur, and finally
follow with a bucket of water as a rinse. This procedure results in low
moans from the cats, but no shrieks.
To dry the cat, towel dry first. You can try hair dryers on low settings
depending on your cat's tolerance. Otherwise, keep them inside until they
are fully dry. If your cat is longhaired, you will want to groom it as the
coat dries. Give the cat a treat after the bath, this may help them tolerate
the process.
If the problem is greasy skin, you may wish to try a dry cat shampoo
instead.

If you are attempting to remove grease, oil, or other petroleum products
from your cat's fur, try using Dawn brand detergent first to remove it, and
follow up with a cat shampoo. Dawn is used by volunteers who clean up birds
after oil spills. Also reported to be successful is Shout laundry stain
remover.