My cat keeps biting my ankles an amusing implication in the shaman class.

Been looking at the shaman and I just noticed the 5th level ability. Specfiically shaman's have a spirit animal as per this . . .

At 1st level, a shaman forms a close bond with a spirit animal tied to her chosen spirit. This animal is her conduit to the spirit world, guiding her along the path to enlightenment. The animal also aids a shaman by granting her a special ability. A shaman must commune with her spirit animal each day to prepare her spells. While the spirit animal does not store the spells like a witch’s familiar does, the spirit animal serves as her conduit to divine power. If a shaman’s spirit animal is slain, she cannot prepare new spells or use her spirit magic class feature until the spirit animal is replaced.

but they don't get this till 5th . . .

Speak with Shaman* (Ex): If the shaman is 5th level or higher, the animal spirit guide and the shaman can communicate verbally as if they were using a common language. Other creatures do not understand the communication without magical help.

Meaning that from 1st to 4th level the shamans spirit animal serves as a conduit and guide to enlightenment by biting, clawing and smaking their shaman in the head.

Cat: WHAP hits shaman on head from a handy shelf.
Shaman: "Ow hey I was just going to eat the . . .
Cat: "MRAOW"
Shamaan: "Did you want it?" offers some salami to cat.
Cat: "HISSSS SPIT" Gnaws shaman's hand till they drop the salami.
Shaman: "Ow fine I'll eat the hardtack instead."
Cat: "Hisssss" (Translation: "For the love of, I'm telling you you need more vegetables stupid primitive ape).

It's a problem with the Wizard's familiar as well. I find it really strange that they can deliver touch spells before they can communicate properly.

Verbal is not the only form of communication - there's a suprising amount of communication that can be done without a shared language, using other noises and gestures (And don't underestimate the importance of body language!). A familiar starts with an Int of 6, that's fundamental different from an animal.

HA! LOL! (and other sounds of amusement.)

Thanks for this thread. It gave me a much needed chuckle.

I had a baby mastodon familiar on a shaman character of mine. His preferred method of communication? Wry interjections with a service counter bell he swiped from a shop. :p

Verbal is not the only form of communication - there's a suprising amount of communication that can be done without a shared language, using other noises and gestures (And don't underestimate the importance of body language!). A familiar starts with an Int of 6, that's fundamental different from an animal.

Hence my post that they're resorting to said other means of communication like a dog familiar pooping in the shaman's shoes when they don't act suitably enlightened as it amused me. Though this does hit a limit on how much you can communicate. General displeasure fine . . .

Shaman: "I've got it narrowed down to these 8 things, I know its not these 11 and I know he likes me doing this cause he keeps giving me a bone when I do it."

but say trying to explain the proper means of conducting a ritual to show respect to a local kami? Even a shinto ritual which is fairly easy to communicate without a common language can be time consuming . . .

1) Bow before the gate.
2) Take your first step with your left foot before passing through on the left side of the way as Kami use the center.
3) Stop at the water basin and holding the ladle with your right hand scoop water from the basin. Doing the entire ritual with a single scoop is the ideal.
4) Wash your left hand, change the ladle to the left hand, and wash your right.
5) Transfer ladle back to the right pour a bit of water in the palm of your left hand and rinse your mouth.
6) Rinse your left hand again.
7) Hold ladle vertical and allow water to rinse the handle.
8) Return ladle

Now picture a greensting scorpion trying to explain that through body language.

I think preparing your spells for the day is more similar to putting your heads together and making some kind of spiritual link with the aether rather than the spirit animal pantomiming or reciting the individual spells to the Shaman.