[bolangi]

Cats spend a significant portion of their day grooming themselves, a kind of bathing, that keeps their fur smooth.

A strong reason to bathe is acceptance by others. One of the first things we do for a newborn or someone injured after getting first aid is to clean them up. We want people to respond positively to us, and being clean is a part of that.

I doubt you'll see a dirty newscaster.

ISTR that the Aboriginals in Australia didn't bathe. But what if they encountered a river? Did they wash and then immediately roll in dirt to ward off mosquitos?