
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.
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