Many people don't understand the reasons why the cat temperament is different to the dog temperament. Some even make the mistake of trying to use the same methods to train their cat's, that they would use for training dogs.
By it's very nature cats prefer solitude, and such was the way before they were domesticated. Cats are solitary hunters and not pack animals. Dogs on the other hand are pack animals by nature, and they survive and thrive in groups. A dog will look at human family members as a pack, and it will acts as part of the pack within whatever role is allocated to it.
The way that the cat temperament is different, is that the cat will regard the people that it resides with as individuals, and not a pack. Dogs don't like to be away from their pack, and in the modern world the dogs owners are the pack. Cats don't mind being left alone as it is in their nature to be loners. However if a cat has from a young age been bought up in an environment where it gets lots of attention, and that attention is removed, it can get bored and start to become destructive. However these types of cats problems will not last, and as soon as you start to give your cat more attention, it should revert to its original habits.
On the face of it you may think that a cat does not really need you, however try to remember that close bonds are very important to cats, and this is not always reflected in the way that they may behave. The bond that a cat forms with its owner is important, although a cat will probably try to play it a bit cool compared to a dog.
Another variation in the cat temperament compared to the dog is that a dog will be ecstatic if you do anything for it. Making eye contact, talking to it, or grooming it will send bursts of pleasure through your dogs body. The cat does not require help from you to be groomed, it can do this on its own.
A cat requires different forms of attention compared to a dog. A cat wants you to make a fuss of it, it will let you know when it gets bored. Your cat will understand the way you say what you say, although it won't have any comprehension of what you are saying. Try to use a soothing tone and your cat will respond to you. You can learn a great deal about the cat temperament by the body language your pet uses in different circumstances. Look at its behaviours when it is happy or content, or when it is angry or upset. Start to read the signs as to what your cat is thinking and you will a step closer to understanding the cat temperament.
