Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Acupuncture and Physiotherapy Welfare

Complementary therapies including acupuncture and physiotherapy are increasingly used for cats with chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

Key Facts

Veterinary acupuncture has some evidence of efficacy for chronic pain management in cats
Physiotherapy including massage and passive range of motion maintains mobility in arthritic cats
Hydrotherapy is sometimes used for post-surgical rehabilitation in cats
Feline patients generally require more patient, gradual introduction to physical therapy
Complementary therapies work best alongside conventional pain management rather than replacing it

Welfare Considerations

Complementary therapies can provide welfare benefit for cats with chronic pain conditions when evidence-based conventional treatment is optimised. They expand the multimodal pain management toolkit and can reduce reliance on medications with potential side effects.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about referral to a veterinary physiotherapist for cats with arthritis
Introduce complementary therapies gradually with patience appropriate to feline temperament
Use complementary therapies as additions to conventional care rather than replacements