My cat hates baths and always has. As a kitten she had some accidents that required a bath. She was terrified of the possibility of being immersed in water, so a shower in the sink was less stressful than a bath on the tub. (Still hated it though.)

Second tip is a bit controversial: my cat has gotten regular manicures since she was a kitten. (With that I mean nail clipping, NOT declawing.) It makes her biscuits more comfortable for me and it makes bathing less bloody