arched back
Feline defensive posture
An arched back is a posture where the spine curves inward, pushing the chest forward and the hips back.
The phrase describes both deliberate positioning—in yoga, dance, or stretching—and involuntary responses to pleasure, pain, or exertion: She arched her back as he massaged her shoulders.
In sexual contexts, an arched back signals arousal or receptivity.
- curvedSmoothly bent, not angular
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- stretchPull to extend
- cat stretchBack-arching floor exercise
- catSmall furry housepet
yoga · yoga pose · cobra pose · feline · posture · flexible · bow · bend · contortion · lordosis · backbend · sensual · defensive · fight or flight · body language · hiss · bristle · supple
- pet behaviortail wagging, purring, kneading, growling, hissing
- dominance displaysdisplay, alpha behavior, power stance, chest puffing, baring teeth
- Workout Mistakesbad form, overtraining, holding breath, overextension, hyperextension
- pet posesloaf, sploot, sit, sitting, standing
- cat artcat portrait, cat figurine, cat statue, maneki-neko, lucky cat
- cat traitssilky coat, coat, tabby pattern, claws, long-haired
arched backflat back
Horizontal resting posture
straight back · ramrod straight · swayback · hunched back · neutral spine
arched backsubmissive posture
Body position showing subordination
relaxed posture · cowering · stiff back · prone position · fetal position
arched, arch, arches, arching, archway, archways, back, backs, backed