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So, this is my situation:
I'm running Rise of the Runelords for a group. My wife got interested in playing, and we made her a character, and she adventures now as part of the group in Rise. However, since she's very new to the game, she feels a little uncertain about what her abilities are, and wants some more training. So I intend to run her through (at least) the first book of some adventure path, with solo sessions. I'm going to keep her at the same level as her character is currently in Rise, which is I think is 6th currently. Of course for a 6th level character, even solo, most first books of APs should be fairly easy, but that's the point, just to flex and get used to the character's abilities, not necessarily to genuinely challenge the character's survival.
Now, the character is an Oracle (I know, I know, spellcasters aren't the best idea for first-time players, but what's done is done) with the Life mystery (i.e. healing Oracle). She also has two pets, a dog and a cat, and I'm thinking of using them as backup if she should get in trouble. But a dog is CR 1/3 and a cat is CR 1/4 so they're not going to be much help in their natural forms. So I'm thinking, maybe I'll make a custom magic item that will have the ability to transform a cat into a cheetah/leopard (CR2) or even a tiger (CR4). And maybe it could transform the dog into a wolf (CR1) or dire wolf (CR3). The plain wolf might be a little weak to be of useful help. But that's my leading idea right now for providing emergency backup for the solo character. An animal-transforming magic item.
But I'd very much like to hear if anyone has any other ideas since many heads are so much better than one. Also, of course, if my plan has any weaknesses.
Also, if anyone has any opinions for which AP first book might be the most suitable for a solo Oracle + emergency animal backup, I'd be VERY interested to hear if any AP is better or worse than the others in that regard. Right now I have access to CotCT, SD, LoF, SerpS, JR, SkulS and RoW, so any comments on the soloability of any of those would be very very appreciated.
Edit: Actually, after doing the whole post I started thinking, maybe I could talk her into picking Summon Monster as a learned spell, and fluff it so that instead of summoning a monster it would buff one of her pets into identical stats. Then I wouldn't have to bend the rules with a custom magic item.
On the other hand I'm concerned that she might feel so protective about the pets that she would not voluntarily use them as combat entities, so if there was a way for the pets to initiate a transformation that would be even better. Plus I intend to mostly use the pets only in emergency situations when she might not have the action economy for taking a round to summon or dig up a magic item. Could be paralyzed or something like that.