Acupuncture for Cats

It seems quite unusual to offer acupuncture for cats as part of a pain relief therapy. Cat parents may find it at first hard to imagine that their cat would stay relaxed during a session and be patient enough to bear this kind of treatment.

However, the initial scepticism disappears very quickly when a feline patient settles and relaxes visibly within a few minutes.

How does it work?

There is no complete explanation for how it works but it can be partly explained by the "gate" theory of pain.
Endorphins are released while the needles are in place. These are natural painkillers related to morphine and this explains the drowsiness experienced by some patients.
However, a number of measurable physiological changes occur during needling and research into this is continuing.