Companion Figurine and Rangers

[Karui Kage]

The feat in question: http://nethys.karuikage.net/feats.htm#companion-figurine

A ranger player of mine was curious if he could effectively go past the normal Ranger limits on animal companions by taking this feat. For example, normally Rangers are limited to just what is in the Core book under their animal companions (I go by the Society ruling that they can't access the ones in the Bestiary either). If a Ranger wanted to, could he take this feat, use a Lion Figurine and get the lion animal companion that way? Normally a Ranger could not have a 'big cat', but this feat, plus the gold expenditure, seems like a fair balance.

Curious what others think.

[Magicdealer]

Nope. "You may select..."

The feat doesn't give you an animal companion. It just adds those figurines to the list of creatures you can pick your animal companion from.

If you don't already have the ability to select an animal companion, it doesn't bestow that ability on you.

[Nether Saxon]

So, that's exactly what the OP thought.
The figurines are added to the list you can choose your animal companions from.
You don't add "Cat, big" to the list forever, but you gain the Golden Lion figurine companion nonetheless.
Might even be a better investment, all in all, seeing as the figurines don't need to be fed or anything like that.

Guenhwyvar, anyone? ^^