Many people don’t understand the reasons why the cat temperament is different to the dog temperament. Some people think that a cat can be trained in a similar way to a dog, This is not the case.
By it's very nature cats prefer solitude, and such was the way before they were domesticated. Apart from lions, cats in general do not live or hunt in large groups. It is in a dogs nature to be a part of a group or a pack. If you have a dog in the family, then the dog will regard the family as a pack, and it will have some sort of position within that pack.
The cat temperament differs in the fact that it will not regard you or members of your family as a pack, but individuals similar to itself, living under the same conditions. Dogs hate being alone as it is in their nature to interact with the pack. Cats don't mind being left alone as it is in their nature to be loners. If your cat has been the recipient of lots of love and attention from a young age, it can get destructive and have behavioural problems, if that attention and love is removed. 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. Though a cat will not give itself up completely to its owner like a dog would, that bond with it's owner is important to the cat.
Another difference between the cat temperament and the temperament of a dog is that a dog will burst with happiness at the slightest bit of attention. Brush it, make eye contact, or just call its name, and the dog will be jumping hoops. The cat does not require help from you to be groomed, it can do this on its own.
Your cat requires varying types of attention, unlike a dog which goes gooey eyed with joy when you just look at it. Cats like contact and a cat wants you to talk to it. Clearly it can't understand the words that you say, but it will notice the tone of your words. 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.
