Arched Back
Spine highly arched
PostureStressed

Arched Back

Extreme fear, defensive intimidation

Tension
Stressed

Interpretation

AThe cat arches its back high, fur standing on end, turning sideways to appear as large as possible. This is the cat's “final warning” — it's saying “I'm dangerous, don't come closer.” n arched-back cat may attack at any moment, but more often it just wants to scare off the threat and flee. Kittens arch their backs during play too, but the fur lies flat and the movement is bouncy — completely different from a genuine fear response.

How to respond

Back away immediately. Don't try to comfort or touch it — give it room to escape.

Want to share your cat's story on this site? Send me an email with a photo and a short description. cells.jiang@gmail.com