Animal Companions and Improved / Greater Grapple

[Ryzoken]

All my searching hasn't come up with a clean answer for this, so I figured I'd create a thread.

I have a searing need to put Improved and Greater Grapple on an animal companion, specifically a big cat animal companion. Provided I raise said cat's Intelligence to 3 (via that ability score increase ability buried in the AC progression table) before doing so, would it be legal in PFS to select Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple, and Greater Grapple over time?

My research indicates that the only restrictions on an animal companion taking feats are Int 3+ and physical capability to perform the action. The former restriction is cleared via the ability score increase, the latter is fuzzier (pardon the pun.) Improved and Greater Grapple are supported by the cat's inherent Grab ability, but the Improved Unarmed Strike prereq for those is more curious. I imagine a cat would totally be able to perform an unarmed strike, using one or more limbs/headbutt, so I think that's clean enough to work, but am unsure. I'm totally visualizing the cat performing either the aforementioned headbutt or a wheeling double pawed kick with its hind legs, similar to how a horse would kick with its rear legs.

tl;dr: Improved Unarmed Strike on a 3+ Int Animal Companion. PFS Legal?

[Nefreet]

It is absolutely legal, although there are some vocal opponents (namely Andrew Christian) that won't let you do it at their table.

Keep in mind, that animals can already perform unarmed strikes. They do not need the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, so it's not like you're teaching your Animal Companion how to do kung fu. It can already do that, from birth.

The Improved Unarmed Strike feat just lets them do it without provoking attacks of opportunity, and they can choose to deal lethal or nonlethal damage.

EDIT: HERE is a thread that Andrew started in the Rules Forum asking this very question. It's 200+ posts long, but delves into the issue nicely.

[BigNorseWolf]

I think you're good. If a DM wants to void that you're probably better off avoiding them with a critter class anyway.

[Ryzoken]

I doubt I'd discover the GM's opinion on ACs and IUS until it was far too late... not like I'd feel comfortable withdrawing from a game I'd signed up to play, potentially making the table illegal/dooming the other players to death without the heals...

Of course, I also doubt I'd be doing any unarmed strikes with the cat. As tempting as a pounce of Strike/Strike/Claw/Claw/Bite/Rake/Rake would be, I'm more interested in the +4 Grapple CMB and being able to do a grapple check as a move action (twice per turn) to do Bite/Rake/Rake during round 2+.

The funny part is, this is the least of the cheese the character's doing...

[Nefreet]

I encountered one GM that didn't allow my Improved Grapple/Snake Style constrictor snake, so ever since then I've carried around two versions in case I encounter table variation again. One has Improved Unarmed Strike/Improved Grapple/Snake Style, and the other, much more tame version has Narrow Frame/Weapon Focus/something else.

Table variation happens. Your best bet is to come prepared and not make it a big issue at the table, or during a game.

[Ryzoken]

Hmm... I think I'll avoid the potential table variation in general and go a different route. 3 feats investment for +4 Grapple and the ability to do two grapples in a single round feels... not worth. Certainly not when I can take Power Attack, Skill Focus and Combat Reflexes instead.

[+4 Grapple] and [two grapples per round]
vs.
[-3 hit for +6 dmg /swing] and [+3 to skill] and [+2 AoOs per round]
is not much contest.