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Body posture

Your cat’s body posture is the last piece of the puzzle to understanding how your cat is feeling. If your kitty is hunched over with his tail wrapped around himself, hunkered down low as if he’s trying to disappear, he is either highly stressed or ill.
On the other hand, a cat who is sure of his surroundings and is feeling secure will sprawl out confidently, perhaps even exposing his delicate underbelly (a sure sign of love and trust) as he naps in the sun. Warning — this might not be a real invitation to touch his tummy! Another time you may see your cat expose his belly is while being attacked or bullied. Some people say this is a surrender gesture, but I disagree. Kitty is actually getting ready to use all four paws’ worth of claws to protect himself from harm.
An arched back usually indicates fear or aggression, especially if accompanied by hisses and spits. However, a kitten with an arched back while happily jumping around is simply learning how to act like a cat. Who hasn’t loved watching a tiny arched-back kitten trying his best to intimidate a larger cat, or even the family dog?

 
Once we’d been inside our new home for a few days, my alpha cat, Boo-Boo, began reclaiming his “alpha-ness” by using his body posture to intimidate the other cats. It’s fascinating to watch as he walks over to another cat, and merely by lowering his head, positioning his ears slightly to the side and blackening his eyes, I will see fear take hold in the other cat as he or she quickly scurries away. All without one noise, one claw or one hiss. My cats have a language among them that is all their own.
You see, your cat isn’t as hard to understand after all. The better you can read his body language, the better you’ll be able to anticipate your cat’s feelings and his needs. You will be the best cat parent any kitty could ever hope to have if you can recognize what his body language is trying to tell you.