Do cats need baths?

We have all heard the stereotype that cats hate water, so it may feel a bit daunting to think about putting your own cat in a tub full of it. You may have even noticed that your cat spends a good portion of its day licking itself, which prompts the question: do cats really need a bath? Most of the time, bathing the cat is more to give the human peace of mind, rather than the cat, but there are reasons behind this other than just your pet’s hatred for being wet.