Cats are clean creatures and they keep themselves clean by licking their fur. Even if you don't bathe your healthy cats during their lifetime, they won't smell. Does that mean you don't have to bathe your cat? I don't think so.
If your cat made a gleeful stroll outside your house, they often go home dirty; and wiping the dirt off with a wet towel just won't do. Hence, you need to bathe your cat....