I just can't believe ANYBODY could be this cruel or stupid..!! Sorry for my plain speaking here, but it's the truth. Don't take my word for it...just ask any Vet. As has already been pointed out, healthy happy cats are perfectly capable of keeping themselves very clean, and they do it because it's pre-programmed intuition - they don't have to be taught. If your cat is old, it's almost certainly getting dirty because it feels ill and weak due to a number of common internal problems, and is no longer able to wash itself thoroughly - in this case, the sensible, proper and humane action would be to have it painlessly put to sleep by a Vet, which is very common for an old cat. But the idea of forcibly wetting and washing it while it's already feeling ill and weak doesn't bear thinking about.. How would you like it ? The important thing to remember is that, contrary to popular belief, cats don't just hate water.. They're actually terrified of it..!! So the poor thing would be in blind terror, and probably die of shock anyway if you tried any such thing..!! As a devoted cat-lover, I implore you.. PLEASE don't..!!