What is the key difference between cartilage and all the other types of tissue

The biggest difference is that cartilage is avascular and aneural. Meaning that it doesn't have a nerve supply for a blood supply. That is unlike any other connective tissue. Cart relies on the compression and traction of the joint during movement to push nutrients in and out. Aneural means there is no nerve supply so cart doesn't feel pain which is good for us because cats main job is to absorb impact. If cart felt pain you would be in agony just walking around from all the forces pushing on it.

Tendons and ligaments are probably the closest thing to cartilage but tendons DO have a blood supply, just very limited. And other connective tissue is highly vascular such as bone.