Acupuncture is part of the ancient system of Chinese medicine, and means the insertion of extremely fine needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture points are not merely random locations; research has now discovered that they do have different characteristics from the skin surrounding them. Around 4000 years ago, acupuncture started to be practiced, and today it remains one of the most commonly used forms of medicine.

The ancient Chinese started to make discoveries about the body, such as the circulation, about 5000 years ago, thousands of years before Europeans. The oldest medical textbook in the world is the Nei Jing, a 4700 year old acupuncture textbook, written by a Chinese Emperor. The Chinese also treated animals with acupuncture, particularly dogs and horses, and several ancient veterinary acupuncture books have also been discovered.

In hospitals in China today, patients will often be treated with both acupuncture and modern western medicine, combining the best of both medical systems. Modern veterinary acupuncturists seek to do the same - to supplement, not replace, modern medical and surgical techniques.

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At the mention of acupuncture on cats, most people's reaction is disbelief. How could a cat tolerate having needles put in it? Although it's true that there are some cats who will not tolerate acupuncture, the majority do not mind, providing it is done gently and sympathetically.

Acupuncture on cats may sound unlikely, but is actually perfectly possible in most cases, and when conducted by a qualified, experienced veterinarian, does not cause pain or distress to the cat.

First, acupuncture is really not painful. The needles used are many times smaller than a normal hypodermic needle, generally only 0.02mm wide (as the pictures shows, the needle is extremely narrow). People who have had acupuncture comment that they felt a mild sensation of warmth, tingling or numbness when needles were inserted, but it was not painful. Sometimes there can be a slight initial prick, but this does not persist when the needle is left in the skin. Some points may be more sensitive than others, but an experienced veterinary acupuncturist will know which points to avoid. Over 95% of animals tolerate acupuncture well.

Second, cats have no anticipation of their acupuncture appointment. People who are nervous about their first acupuncture appointment can work themselves up for days about it, but then usually find that the actual experience is not nearly as bad as they thought, and all their worry and stress was for nothing. Many veterinary acupuncturists treat animals on house calls, so all the cat knows is that its owner has a visitor, and the acupuncture is over before it knows what was happening! The cat is never as worried about acupuncture as its human.

An experienced veterinary acupuncturist will be sympathetic to your cat's needs. When I treat cats, I use a minimal number of needles. I also insert a few at a time and let the cat rest and stretch out between needles. Gentle treatment and making friends first goes a long way!

For cats who are truly intolerant of needles, there are modern methods of needle-less acupuncture. Low level lasers and infrared light can be used to stimulate acupuncture points. This merely involves holding an emitter next to the skin, and is not painful or invasive.

Recently, there has been increasing interest in research to establish acupuncture's efficacy and to try to deduce its mechanism of action. Many studies, on both people and animals, have proved that acupuncture really does reduce pain, improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Acupuncture's pain-relieving effects are now largely accepted, even by those who do not believe in its other benefits.

Research has shown both acupuncture's effects in specific conditions, and its general effects on the body, for example:
-stimulation of the immune system
-reduction of fever
-normalization of gut motility
-normalization of heart rhythm and blood pressure

Studies have been done on acupuncture for specific disorders in cats, for example respiratory problems. Acupuncture has been shown to 'enhance the treatment of chronic allergic bronchitis and asthma in cats' (Schwartz, 1992). This generally allows a reduction in the drug doses necessary to control symptoms, therefore minimizing side effects.

A wide variety of conditions benefit from acupuncture. This list does not include every condition acupuncture can help in cats, to find out more, contact a certified veterinary acupuncturist in your area (see module below for details).

Gastrointestinal conditions
- inflammatory bowel disease
- megacolon or megaeosphagus
- persistent diarrhoea, vomiting or constipation
- biliary problems

Musculoskeletal problems
- unexplained lameness or residual lameness after trauma, especially if painkillers are ineffective or cannot be used
- arthritis or rheumatism
- back pain / spinal disorders
- muscle, ligament or tendon problems

Skin problems
- skin and ear infections
- psychogenic skin problems and self-trauma
- feline acne
- immune-mediated conditions

Respiratory conditions
- bronchitis
- chronic coughing that is unresponsive to treatment
- chronic sneezing or nasal discharge
- feline asthma
- chronic cat flu

Neurological problems
- spinal disc disease
- epilepsy
- trauma, e.g. head injury, coma
- meningitis
- neuropathies

Cardiovascular conditions
- high blood pressure
- dysrhythmias
- heart failure and valve diseases

Reproductive problems
- false pregnancy
- problems after giving birth
- infertility

Urinary conditions
- infections such as cystitis
- kidney disease
- incontinence

Immune system problems
- feline immunodeficiency virus infection
- gingivitis and gum disease
- inflammatory bowel disease
- asthma
- autoimmune anaemia and blood clotting disorders
- immune deficiency / suppression

Endocrine (hormonal) conditions
- diabetes
- hyperthyroidism

Behavioral problems
- anxiety/fearfulness
- house soiling, overgrooming and aggression due to stress
- restless, hyperactivity and insomnia

It's important to find a trained, experienced veterinary acupuncturist, who is used to treating cats and sensitive to their needs. In many countries, including the UK and many US states, only veterinarians can perform acupuncture, as use of needles is considered an act of veterinary surgery.

There are two main bodies which train and certify vets in veterinary acupuncture. By choosing one of these vets, you can be assured that they have had comprehensive training, passed written and practical exams, interned with an experienced veterinary acupuncturist and complete continued education to maintain their certified status. Certified vets will use the letters CVA, certified veterinary acupuncturist, after their names. You can search for certified veterinary acupuncturists by worldwide location here:

- International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

- Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

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