Pet stats???Follow

ok well im a lvl 16 hunter and have tried out a variety of pets, cat, bear crab, owl and even those ugly striders but i really cant tell what has better deffence or attack or attack speed are there really differences...? i really cant tell all the situations i test them in are ussually different, can someone help me out? are cats "dual wielders"? and what makes a good meatshield? ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PETS, BESIDES THE LOOK?