Do familiars gain feats and skill points?

[02youeng]

Right, I'm rather a new player [one campaign], but I'm almost a rule lawyer [so you know.] But, I've found nothing about familiars gaining feats, or skill points.

Now, I found on the Wizards website an article saying that familiars can ride their master, to help avoid attacks etc. But, if a familiar can ride their master can they take ranks in riding, and the mounted combat feat, and negate hits on the wizard/sorcerer?

[Khantalas]

I don't think that's what riding means in that context.

[Zherog]

Familiars do not gain skills and feats, because they do not gain hit dice.

[Pegasos989]

Yup but in every skill they have ranks equal to half of their masters' ranks in the skill...

[Dark Knight Renee]

Yup but in every skill they have ranks equal to half of their masters' ranks in the skill...

Where dd you get that? Familiars use their master's skill ranks or their own, whichever is higher. They use their own modifiers, though.

[Pegasos989]

Where dd you get that? Familiars use their master's skill ranks or their own, whichever is higher. They use their own modifiers, though.

Oh, right. My bad. I dunno where I got that half -thingy.

[02youeng]

Familiars have half the hit points of the master, which is where you got it from, I think. Or the amount of hit points they should have if they were a normal animal, whichever is better

[Dark Knight Renee]

Probably their hit points. Familiars get half their master's hit points. *shrug*

Edit: Simu posted.