To those that are interested in this wolf vs small cat in the future, iv got some "new" information.
After checking the net I got an confirmation from Mr J.Jacobs Creative Director in Paizo that the feat weapon finesse CAN be used to gain both dex to attack and CMB.
He wrote:
"If you use Weapon Finesse and you make a combat manuever with a weapon you can use Weapon Finesse on, your CMB is adjusted by Dex, not Str. It all "still flies"—nothing's really changed since then as far as I know. Note that natural attacks are ALWAYS finessable, so an animal that has Weapon Finesse can add that to their trip attacks.
If you're a rapier fighter who uses Weapon Finesse and won't be ever doing many bull rushes, Weapon Finesse or Weapon Focus is the feat for you and Agile Maneuvers is not.
If you're a bard or rogue or monk who wants to be all about the kung-fu or swashbuckly elements of ALL of the combat maneuvers, regardless of what move you want to make or what weapon you use, Agile Maneuvers is the feat you want and Weapon Finesse/Focus is not."
"
So this might change things around a bit, because this means agile manouvers isent the way to go for animal companions.
So lets check the 2 animals again:
Level 1
Wolf:
Feat: Power Attack
1 attack
Damage: 1d6+3(1str, )
To attack: +1 (-1 for power attack)
Armour Class: 14(2 natural, 2 dex)
CMB: 12
CMD: 13
Small cat:
Feat: Weapon finesse
3 attacks
Damage: 1d4+1, 1d2+1, 1d2+1
To attack: +6,+1,+1 (1BAB +5 dex) Using weapon finesse
Armour Class 17(1 natural, 1 size, 5 dex
CMB: 14 (Using weapon finesse dex instead of str)
CMD: 16
As you can see the Cat wins cleary on CMD, CMB, AC and to attack. And the main attack where you get trip, the cat has +6 where the wolf has +1(2 if not using power attack). So those trips wil get more prones for the åarty to hit!
As for damage the maximum damage for the wolf is 9, but if it misses its attack it gets nothing. The cat has 3 attacks, where the lowest has the same attack bonus as the wolf. It means that if 1 misses it has 2 new tries. This at a maximum damage of 11.
Level 4.
Many chooses to give their Animal companions int bonus. To keep it simple, il give them more standard bonuses. This means the wolf get +1 str and the small cat +1dex.
Wolf:
Feat: Power Attack, Cleave
1 attack
Damage: 1d6+5(2str, 3 power attack due to 1,5str)
To attack: +3 (-1 for power attack)
Armour Class: 14(2 natural, 2 dex)
CMB: 12
CMD: 14
Small cat(now medium):
Feat: Weapon finesse, Power Attack
3 attacks
Damage: 1d6+5, 1d3+5, 1d3+5
To attack: +7,+2,+2 (3BAB +5 dex, -1 power atack(-5 second)) Using weapon finesse
Armour Class 16 (+1 natural, 5 dex)
CMB: 15 (Using weapon finesse dex instead of str)
CMD: 18
So at level 4 the cat is still supreme on all accounts and gets a mutch needed strengt boost. It looses 1AC but gains CMB/CMD.
The maximum damage of the wolf now is 11. 11 damage and potential cleave for 2 attacks. But normaly only 11.
The Cat has a maximum 27 damage on the 3 attacks.
But as you can see the medium sized cat dont get more attack bonuses due to that the level increses its strengt, but it uses Dex to hit.
So now its level 7, this is the level the wolf grows and should come to its right.
Since people may choose their own feats here, il drop to add that on this level.
If I where to choose id give the cat cleave, and the wold weapon focus or improve natural attacks.
Wolf:(Now large size)
Feat: Power Attack, Cleave
1 attack
Damage: 1d8+15(9str, 6 power attack due to 1,5str)
To attack: +8 (-2 for power attack)
Armour Class: 15(4 natural, 1 dex)
CMB: 17(+size)
CMD: 18 (+size)
Small cat(now medium):
Feat: Weapon finesse, Power Attack
3 attacks
Damage: 1d6+7, 1d3+7, 1d3+7
To attack: +7,+2,+2 (4BAB +5 dex, -2 power attack(-5 second)) Using weapon finesse
Armour Class 16(1 natural, 5 dex
CMB: 15 (Using weapon finesse dex instead of str)
CMD: 18
So as we can see the wolf takes a giant leap forward on this level. His Armour Class almost rivals the cat, he attack better then the cats first attack and a lot betterh the the cats 2. and 3. Also the wolf gets an realy great strength boost. Also his CMB increases to above the cat, and the CMB is equal.
Also the fact that he now can trip huge enemies means a lot.
As for damage ways the wolf now gives a max damage of 23, and still might double that with cleave. The cat on the other hand has a maximum 33 BUT the 2 off hands attacks are now falling behind badly and at a way lover to hit it wil miss more often, so it cant count on getting more damage then the wolf any more.
So my advice: Either keep your cat until you are level 10 and its level 7.
Or keep your cat until you get to level 7. Then change it to a wolf and get the feat Boon Companion. It wil raise the wolf to the leve 7, same as you.
Some people might also enjoy to "tag team" with their animal companion, and could take a look at teamwork feats to increase damage, armour and other things.
Hope this helps someone, and im sorry if my calculations are wrong. Tell me and il fix em.
