wetware: I had a ferret (a lot like a cat, but more attention-hungry, like a dog) who used to play in the tub (or sink, or a bucket) with a little bit of water, and occasionally walk right into the shower with you, but never, ever did he want to be submerged, and he never was, we'd just soap him up in the shower (keeping his head dry, and hold him close to rinse him off). I guess I always thought that's how a cat would like to be bathed, if they had to be.