Within the next vew years my char have to learn the Verditius secret of Reforging Enchanted Items what gives averse to risks so I dont realy look at experimentation.
But I for sure will have search for a familiar as soon I know that I can get my hand on the necesary vis for the binding as every +2 count.
The covenant we use is desined with the Covenants rules as fare I can see I expect that we play with the covenant rules but I have to get my hand on the book first bevore I can say what I want to do in lab specialisation.
Well, there's an Owl on p65 that is +2 (InMe), but the rest are +1 (Re, In), 0 (An) or Cunning.
Aren't cats Int +3?
The cat-template gives a default of Int 0 (RoP: M, p. 70).