This is how I understand these energies, and yes feel free to call them your Spirit Guides. :)
Beings have an energy signature, while we in human form don't think like this and use names instead, we do actually recognize peoples energy signatures. Think of a time when someone snuck up behind you and you knew exactly who it was. It was because you recognized their energy, maybe a few seconds later you recognized their smell, or breathing pattern, but first you recognized their energy signature and your brain translates that into "Susan' or "Bob" or whatever.
Cat's, snakes and fox's are interpretations of particular energy signatures. On a Spiritual or deep subconscious level these animals represent certain things to you and so when the energies Beings with those signatures are around you you translate them into 'fox, cat, snake'.
Now let's say you are hanging out with some interfaith friends who can also perceive the same Beings;
One might answer "I sense Ganesh with us, and Hanuman and Durga,
meanwhile your Christian friend says, "Yes we are not alone, I perceive Angel Michael, Rafael and Gabriel with us."
Your Pagan Norwegian friend responds "I perceive them as Beyla, Gondul and Ragnarok."
and your Native American Friend says "I know them, it is Raven, Rattlesnake and Coyote"
and your Irish friend says "To me they are Alaunus, Icaunus and Olwen"
Does this make sense?
In my language based on my interpretations of the Benevolent Energies guiding me I would respond that I am watched over by the Cougar, Arch Angel Gabriel, an ET race whom I know not but feel and sense often, Arch Angel Michael and several relatives who've passed over and a great many crystals and their deities and Elemental Spirits.
They don't actually seem to care how I label them, they do care though that I stay present enough to receive their messages and not get lost in Brain Think and become spiritually deaf.