What causes a cat to arch its back when it's scared or threatened?
1 Answer
When a cat feels threatened or scared, it will arch its back in an attempt to appear bigger and more intimidating. This is a defensive behavior, as the cat is trying to appear as intimidating as possible in order to scare away the perceived threat. Additionally, cats may also fluff up their fur and hiss or growl as a way of further expressing their fear and aggression.