Questions About Pets

I have a question about the pets that Rangers can tame. I like that cat very much, but am a but uncertain about a few things. During the Co-op missions my cat shows up, but a few times when I have gone out on my own, ( this is after entering the Academy) is no longer is with me. Is that just a bug in the game? Any feedback would be most appreciated.

your animal companion will only follow you while you have the "charm animal" skill equipped and are in a "battle instance", for the lack of any better term. These instances include explorable areas, missions, and pvp areas. the other areas of the game are "non-battle instances": towns, outposts, and the guild hall (non pvp map). if there are a ton of people around or if you are not holding your equipped weapon, you are not in a "battle instance" and your animal companion will not show.

if you do not have the "charm animal" skill equipped, your animal companion will not be there. your animal companion may also die or possibly get stuck on terrain without your knowledge and thus not be following you at some point, in which case if you enter a new "battle instance" zone, your animal companion will be back at your side after the loading screen.