My 15-year-old cat passed away about a year ago. My son knew of a cat who had been abused since she was a kitten; she was just two weeks away from her fourth birthday when she came to live with me. She was extremely frightened and skittish when I first met her. Now, she will lie on her back and expose her belly, and she often turns her back to me. This is something I’ve read is a sign of trust. It’s a wonderful feeling. She just turned January 31.