Do I really need to bathe my cat? How often, and how should I wash them?

Quick answer

A healthy, indoor-only cat grooms themselves constantly throughout the day, so bathing is technically unnecessary. Frequent bathing causes severe stress and damages the skin barrier. Unless something seriously dirty has gotten on their fur or it's for treating a skin condition, once or twice a year — or not at all — is perfectly fine. For dirty spots, gently wiping with a warm damp cloth is more than enough.