My experiences are the same than Sallyanne's. This is one of the differences between cats and dogs. Dogs begin to stink, cats not. The fur of Filou and Tigris smells always fresh and very nice (I often put my nose in).
Tigris had one bath in his life. It was when he managed to break a nail enamel remover bottle and to spill the liquid over his back. We had to do it 2 persons against him (you cannot imagine how strong 13 lb raging cat can be), he howled like a coyote, because he was sure we wanted to drown him and he did not talk to us for hours. I hope I will not have to repeat that