What happens if a cat is never bathed?

Not bathing a cat leads to several issues. A cat’s skin produces oils that protect the skin and coat, and over time without bathing these oils accumulate, making the coat greasy, clogging pores, causing matting and strong body odor, and in severe cases leading to dermatitis and acne. A cat’s skin and fur are also ideal habitats for parasites such as fleas, mites, and ticks, and a lack of bathing can allow heavy infestation with itching, hair loss, and redness. Regular bathing is therefore necessary, but not too frequent; for house cats, a bath every 2 to 3 months is generally sufficient.