08/10/2026
Ever wondered why a witch’s cat is called a “familiar”? 🐈⬛
In folklore, a familiar was a supernatural companion believed to help a witch with her magical work. The name comes from the Latin 'familiaris', meaning “of the household”.
Familiars weren’t always cats. They could appear as dogs, birds or even toads. But black cats have rather cornered the Halloween market. But not every cat is a familiar - technically, the title goes to the devoted helper.
Although if you’ve ever lived with a cat, you’ll know there’s some disagreement about who serves whom.