Mages emanated something special, undefinable motes that just floated around them, and stuck around the room for a bit even after they had left. No one really knew this though, because it was a very faint taste in the air, one that demanded focus and attention from even the most refined palate.
Ser Pounce-a-Lot knew exactly how to recognize his human that way. He liked the flavor, a subtle variant of his salty skin mixed with a piquant zest of the spirit world.
Headcanon buddies! This is what cats do. And Pounce, as a magical kitten, is of course naturally drawn to the spirit world.