How to tell if an animal is your familiar?

[Yaniavari]

I've searched and it's hard to make it clear... How exactly can you tell if an animal is your familiar?

[Raven At Heart]

Most people here say, have it sit on your lap during a ritual. I'd actually say, does it display any unusual psychic abilities and connections, with you and with things near you, because I won't let my familiars near a ritual. They help me in other ways but I won't drain their energies.

[SnowCat]

Mine always tell me.

Snow

[Hearth Witch]

In my opinion, you will know when a familiar has made themselves known to you. I've had many pets in my day and I have never had as strong of a spiritual bond with them as I have with my current cat. Three years ago I was going through a lot of hardship when a co-worker asked if I wanted a kitten out of the litter his cat birthed. I didn't really talk to this person a lot, and we worked with about 100 other people so I was surprised he'd ask me. I picked up the kitten after work one day and took him home. Ever since we've been inseparable and he has helped me grow in many ways.

Whenever I am working at my altar, he's always there at my side, lending his own energy to whatever it is I'm doing. We talk to each other (telepathically and the like) and he'll either listen or do what I ask. My altar emits a lot of magickal energy and I will usually catch him sleeping next to it when he could easily find more comfortable places. I think he just likes to soak up that energy. ^-^
He's a very magickal cat and I'm thankful he's in my life to help me along my path.

My dog on the other hand could not care less what it is I'm doing as long as she's fed

[SpiritTalker]

In my 60 plus years, I've shared quarters with over 20 cats, dogs, birds and hamsters, and fish. Of all these there has been only one that shared a regular telepathic link with me. She was a long haired, white cat with 2 different colored eyes and extra toes. She would come running if I was working trance with one particular spirit and sit on our shoulder. She was with me 21 years, and had a few years on her before she came to me. She would hiss at me when I was angry, so I learned self control. I never thought of her as a familiar because I was not into the witchy during her life time, but she would surely qualify.

[Raven At Heart]

Yah spirit that cat would definitely be a familiar. My bird draws out my emotions when I'm being too complacent.

[Firebird]

I think a sure tell way is if they show up or hang out when one is working on the fringe.
I had a black cat, Spooky, who was a real guardian. He would sit at the edge watch the perimeter of the circle. At that house I had a permanent stone circle. He would sit at the edge somtimes even when we weren't in ceremony.
Then there was Pooter the ferret. Any time I did work in the house you would hear his little toenails come clicking down the hall to join me in the magic. He would sit in my lap if I was sitting, or lay in his basket in the magic room if I was standing or moving around.
Since moving to this house I haven't had an animal take interest, untill about 5 years ago the neighbor got a grey kitten, Dixie. She showed up in circle when she was little and has been coming ever since. Such a sweet little girl. She wants to interact with everyone in the ritual. Sometimes she just watches. None of my other 5 cats, except for Sampson had any interest. Sampson whould show up occasionally but not stay.
Lately I feel the ringneck doves may be participating, because when we call air they sing back.... coo coo coo karoo!
Bb, Firebird