My old cat was a Persian, and we'd bathe him fairly often. His fur would get matted or dirty from his food and water pretty easily, especially because he had a snow-white coat. He didn't mind the bath, but afterward he would run and hide and try to dry himself off. He was not too keen about being towel-dried. After the bath, he did enjoy lying in the sun, so we'd take him outside — in a clean, dry area, of course — and let him air dry that way.
My current kitty is a tabby, and she cleans herself several times a day. Her fur is very soft and clean, so I never felt the need to give her a bath. If she goes outside and gets dirty or her paws get muddy, then I probably will. I suppose it depends on the cat's breed and what kinds of things he or she gets into.
