how do you tell if an animal is a familiar??

[saianalyd]

how do u tell if a pet is a familliar or if they just like you?

[Wolf Heart]

Usually you can just tell. The animal is very attuned to you, also they may come around A LOT when you are preforming magicks. The familiar I once had (she lives with my cousin now) always came around when I was meditating or doing a spell. She was also very attuned to my feelings. When I was angry she stayed the hell away when I was sad she rubbed against me (which is very rare for her to do)
I cried the day my cousin took her.

[gingerkitty]

Hi there, it seems to me that no matter what the creature, mine seems to be my cat “widow”or one of my ferrets that was given to me; both pets i never payed for & i guess that is how they become familiar & they just come to you.

[moonlit]

My guess is just thatyou would just "know" lol

moonlit

[Tianta]

I have wondered this for a while now as I have many pets...but never can really tell as I dont like keeping any loose when I do spells as I'm afraid of them knocking something over and/or setting stuff on fire!! LOL

[Comus]

I once had a mouse as a familiar. I just bought her because I wanted a mouse. By coincedence there was a witchy shop next to the pet shop and I needed some supplies so I took her in with me. As I was paying for my stuff the two ladies at the counter (both witches) looked in the box and exclaimed (at the same time) 'Oh what a sweetheart!'...which was kinda wierd and coincedental so I decided to name my mouse Sweetheart. It's a really nice name which suggests a loving heart, which is, in my mind one of the best hings to have. I must say that in the very short time that I was blessed with Sweetheart (she did not live long) I really felt pretty secure and happy in my craft and in harmony with nature. Caring for another creature is really rewarding.

[hedge*]

Wolf Heart summed it up very nicely.

Familiars are animals that choose you. You receive and give enregy to and from them. That energy assists you in your magical workings.

[SpiritTalker]

Replying to an old post -

Traditionally the understanding of a familiar spirit has been that the spirit or fae appeared in the likeness of an animal, or sometimes as the spirit of a deceased human. The point here is familiars were spirits. They were not pets. Possibly a spirit could possess your beloved pet but think carefully before putting that burden on your best friend.

[Helena64]

Yeah, I wouldn't call for it, no matter how bad I'd want a familiar. I should try to check if my cat is one, as she's always been very close to me and always understands when I'm sad or scared...

[SpiritTalker]

That’s bcs she loves you.