Understand the Cat Temperament and You Will Understand Your Cat

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 on the whole tend to hunt and live on their own. 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.

Though cats seem quite content being on their own, they do create strong bonds with the people around them. 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. Making eye contact, talking to it, or grooming it will send bursts of pleasure through your dogs body. The cat on the other hand doesn't need you to brush it, it is more than capable of cleaning itself, make eye contact with the cat and it won't see it as another means of attention.

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. Your cat won't comprehend the words you are saying but it will understand the tone of the words. Make those words gentle and loving, and that will endear you to your cat. 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.