Redirected aggression is an example of your cat letting air out, but there are more subtle ways. To me, the tail swish is that “balloon’s” ability to let air out. Once the balloon is full, the tail becomes an air escape mechanism. Same thing with what I call “back lightning.” The twitching that happens through the cat’s back is, at least partially, a spasm, but also a way of getting that energy out. You may notice your cat walking across the room, suddenly stopping as if a fly just landed on him and then very deliberately grooming himself. This self-soother is also a self-regulator.
