Familiars: The Animals Who Keep Us Company in the Craft

If you have looked closely at my ritual photographs, you’ll have met the bronze cat who sits on the right-hand side of my table, watching over the candle. The tarot deck I use is illustrated with cats too. Animals have been part of witchcraft for as long as there have been witches, and my table would feel empty without them.

What is a familiar?

In folklore, a familiar is a spirit companion that helps a witch, often in animal form. Today many people use the word more loosely for a pet they feel especially connected to: the cat who always sits on the altar, or the dog who refuses to leave your side when you are sad.

Whether you see your familiar as a spirit ally or simply as a beloved animal, the relationship is the same at heart: attention, trust and care.

Working alongside a pet

• Let them choose. Some animals love sitting near you while you work. Others leave the room. Both are fine.
• Keep them safe. Candles, essential oils, salt and many herbs and plants can harm animals. Put them out of reach, or work in a room your pet can’t get into.
• Include them gently. A photo of your pet on the altar, or a few of their shed hairs in a protection pouch, invites them into the work without any risk.

A small blessing for an animal companion

Light a candle, safely away from your pet. Hold a photo of them and say: “May you be safe, healthy and happy in this home. Thank you for your company.” Leave the photo by the candle while it burns for a few minutes. That’s all. Simple, and full of love.

A blessing never replaces a vet. If your pet is unwell, please call one straight away.

Pet magick at my table

People ask me to cast for their animals more than you might think: a rescue settling in, a move to a new home, an old dog slowing down. My pet magick rituals are cast with a white candle and your companion’s name on the packet, and the bronze cat keeps watch in the photographs.