The cat's natural habit of licking has a seriously harmful effect. Cats have tiny barbs on their tongues that pull out lots of hair as they groom themselves. The large accumulation of hair that is swallowed as a result of this licking causes those dreaded hairball formations. They may develop throat and intestinal problems even if they're given hairball remedies. Professional grooming of the cat is therefore not a luxury - it is an absolute necessity.
Grooming reduces the amount of loose hair that can be swallowed.
In addition, brushing and bathing effectively reduces the dander on the cat's skin which causes human allergies. Hairless cats, often considered safe for allergic humans to have, still are not completely non-allergenic. Dander and other allergens cling to their coats, too. Bathing them reduces allergic reactions. Sam Kohl, the President of the New York School of Dog Grooming, has been active in all phases of the pet industry since 1947.