Cat Anxiety and Stress: Vet Care and Acupuncture
Hiding, overgrooming and litter box problems: check for medical causes first. Calming points commonly discussed.
This guide is educational and does not replace a veterinary diagnosis. Acupuncture is used alongside, not instead of, conventional care, and the evidence differs from condition to condition. See our Medical Disclaimer.
See a veterinarian first
Contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately, and do not delay care to try acupuncture, if:
- Your cat is not eating or drinking, or hiding for more than a day.
- Your male cat is straining to urinate.
- Your cat is hurting itself by overgrooming or chewing.
- Behavior changed suddenly, or episodes look like seizures.
This list is not complete. Cats hide illness, so if you are worried, call your veterinarian.
What is anxiety, stress and hyperesthesia?
Cats show stress quietly. Hiding, overgrooming, litter box problems, aggression or loss of appetite can be signs of anxiety, but pain, urinary disease, thyroid disease and other illness cause the same signs. Feline hyperesthesia syndrome, with rippling skin, twitching and sudden bursts of grooming or running, is a diagnosis of exclusion and needs a veterinary work-up.
Signs to look for
- Hiding or avoiding people
- Overgrooming or bald patches
- Urinating outside the litter box
- Aggression or sudden irritability
- Twitching skin or sudden frantic running
How veterinarians diagnose and treat it
Your veterinarian will first look for medical causes, then help with the cat’s environment: hiding places, vertical space, separate resources and routine. Pheromone products and, if needed, prescribed behavior medicine may be used, sometimes with a veterinary behaviorist.
Acupuncture for feline hyperesthesia and stress
Some practitioners use calming points such as Yin Tang and Shan Gen as an add-on. The source chart notes that finger pressure can be used at these points, but it should be taught by a veterinarian and stopped if your cat resists.
What the evidence says: Evidence for acupuncture in feline anxiety and hyperesthesia is very limited and mostly anecdotal.
Results vary from cat to cat and cannot be promised. To find a practitioner, see cat acupuncture near me in our directory.
Acupuncture points for cats commonly discussed for this condition
These feline acupuncture points are named in traditional charts for the signs described on this page. Each guide gives the location, traditional indications and safety notes. Listing a point is not a promise that it will help, and points are chosen by the practitioner for each cat.
- Yin Tang (印堂)Chart lists: sedation, anxiety, insomnia
- HT7 Shen Men (神门)Chart lists: anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia
- Bai Hui (百会)Traditional use; see the point guide
- SP6 San Yin Jiao (三阴交)Chart lists: anxiety
- PC6 Nei Guan (内关)Chart lists: anxiety
- LIV3 Tai Chong (太冲)Chart lists: anxiety
- BL23 Shen Shu (肾俞)Traditional use; see the point guide
- Shan Gen (山根)Chart lists: sedation
See all points on the cat acupuncture points chart.
Next steps and resources
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Acupuncture books, printable point cards, courses and learning resources.
See books and courses →Cat acupuncture points chart
Browse cat acupuncture points by meridian with locations and traditional indications.
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Frequently asked questions
Is acupuncture used for feline hyperesthesia?
A few practitioners offer it as an add-on for stress-related signs, but there is little evidence. Medical causes must be ruled out first.
Can I use pressure points to calm my cat?
The chart lists Yin Tang and Shan Gen for gentle finger pressure. Ask your veterinarian to show you, and stop if your cat resists or seems distressed.
Why is my cat overgrooming?
Pain, skin disease, allergies and stress can all cause it. Have your cat examined.
Related cat conditions
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