Easiest way to bathe a cat
I've hit upon what I think is the best way to avoid getting all scratched up and keep Kitty from undue stress:
1. First, it's a good idea to clip the cat's claws.
2. With the cat out of the bathroom, fill a large bucket or dishpan with warm water. The sound of running water can be scary to the cat, especially one who has had a bath before! Remember that a cat's body temperature is about 104 degrees so it should be on the warm side, not just lukewarm which will seem cold to the cat. Set the bucket in your empty bathtub.
3. Have cat shampoo and at least two bath towels on hand, and a cup or container with which to dip and pour water from the bucket onto the cat.
4. Bring the cat in and shut the bathroom door and place in the empty tub, not in the bucket: it is nice to have a helper who can hold the cat, but it can work alone, depending on the cat. (One of mine is actually less frightened with just me there--it seems like a more casual event instead of a Big Ordeal)
5. Dip and pour warm water all over the cat. Apply shampoo and lather him/her up, avoiding the face. It is far less scary to have water poured over than to be standing in a few inches of water. It's actually a kitty shower, not a real bath.
6. When they are clean, dip and pour more water over until they are thoroughly rinsed. Squeegee them off with your hands, then place in the first towel and blot and rub. Then use the second towel for a more complete drying. If they like it, you can use a blow-dryer on them. Blow dryers are for adult cats, never for small kittens.
7. Keep them in a warm place until completely air-dried.
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They seem to be able to bathe themselves quite effectively. Any kind of bath will stress the be-jesus out of a cat.
Or get two cats and let them lick each other. Mine seem to do this all the time! 
