According to the text, what are "totem" animals?

"Totem" animals are creatures who have knowledge and ways that are intimately related with one another. They also can have specific types of connections with humans. There are animals which resonate more with some individuals than with others. Just as people find that they harbor preferences for some of those they meet, but not all, there are 'cat people' and 'dog people' - that is people who do well with cats, or with dogs. Some resonate equally well with both, others do not.