BL18 Gan Shu (肝俞) Cat Acupuncture Point
In cats, BL18 (Gan Shu, 肝俞) is a feline acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. It is located 1.5 cun lateral to GV, below T9 spinous process. Traditional indications in this chart include hepatitis, jaundice, eye disorders.
This page is educational. It describes a point in cats as listed in traditional charts and does not give treatment advice. Points should be needled only by trained veterinary professionals, and cats are small and sensitive. See our Medical Disclaimer.
Quick facts
- Species
- Cat
- Point code
- BL18
- Pinyin
- Gan Shu
- English name
- Liver Shu
- Chinese name
- 肝俞
- Meridian
- Bladder
- Element or system
- Water
- Needle depth listed (practitioners only)
- 0.3 to 0.5 cm
- Point category
- Back-Shu of Liver
Needle depths are shallow because cats are small. They are shown for reference and are not instructions for owners.
Where is BL18 Gan Shu on a cat?
1.5 cun lateral to GV, below T9 spinous process.
Point locations are approximate and vary with breed and body size. A trained practitioner finds the point by feeling anatomical landmarks.
“Cun” is a proportional unit used to find points on the body, so distances scale with the size of the cat.
Traditional indications
- Hepatitis
- jaundice
- eye disorders
- behavioral irritability
Indications are taken from traditional veterinary acupuncture charts. They describe how the point has been used and are not proof that it treats these conditions in cats.
Cat conditions that mention BL18 Gan Shu
PetAcu cat condition guides that name this point:
Points often discussed alongside BL18 Gan Shu
These feline acupuncture points appear in the same cat condition guides. A practitioner chooses a combination for each cat.
Safety notes
Needling should only be done by a trained veterinary professional. Cats are small and sensitive, and shallow needling and short sessions are usual. This point lies along the back or hip region, close to deeper structures such as the kidneys, so needle depth is chosen with care in a small cat. Note from the source chart: Liver disease is common in cats; often paired with LIV3.
Never apply pressure or heat to a painful area on a cat. If your cat suddenly cannot use the back legs, is breathing with an open mouth, or is straining to urinate, see a veterinarian immediately.
Questions about BL18 Gan Shu
Where is BL18 Gan Shu on a cat?
1.5 cun lateral to GV, below T9 spinous process. Locations are approximate and are found by palpation by a trained practitioner.
What is BL18 Gan Shu used for in feline acupuncture?
The source chart lists hepatitis, jaundice, eye disorders, behavioral irritability as traditional indications. This is traditional use and not proof of effect.
Can I use BL18 Gan Shu as a cat acupressure point at home?
Needling should only be done by a trained veterinary professional. Gentle pressure is sometimes shown by veterinarians, so ask yours first, especially if your cat is unwell, in pain or has not been examined.
Learn more and next steps
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Other Bladder acupuncture points for cats
Species: cat. Point data compiled by PetAcu from small-animal acupuncture textbooks and TCVM references (feline chapters). Back to the cat acupuncture points chart or the veterinary acupuncture points atlas.