My totem is a puma and the most interesting thing I've had happen is when he inhabited my cat, my cat didn't look like herself and didn't feel like herself and had "puss" (my totem animal - he won't tell me his name) like look in her face.

Marydean is correct - you need to understand both sides of your totem to fully work with your totem - I've seen mine rip a person apart in the astral