The idea of having a familiar is fairly common amonst witches and Wiccans but it is not a requirement. The chances are that most of your fellow practitioners don't have (and never have had) one.

Probably the biggest misconception about familiars (particularly where witches are concerned) is that it must be a cat, and a black cat at that. An animal of any species can appear in your life as a familiar. Its appearance in your life may be completely unexpected (and unasked for) and it's more than possible that the form it takes (what animal) may in fact be a message to you in itself.

Familiars can take many different roles in your life including (but not limited to) guide, teacher, friend, healer, or assistant. Even though a familiar may come to you in the form of a family pet you shouldn't treat them that way. They are, after all, completely independent spirits. They should be treated with honor and respect.

You will undoubtedly develop a strong psychic bond with your familiar as they become part of your life. Each person's experience is different but the bond is always there.

Familiars do not always appear in the guise of animals. Your familiar may well be on the astral plane and working contact is through meditation or dreams.

Sometimes your familiar will seek you out, other times it will be up to you to find them. Meditation and scrying are two often used methods that can help you to locate your companion. You can't make a familiar appear, you must invite them. If the need is genuinely there, you will find each other.

Familiars come to you when you have a need for them. Often this may be because you need their help to develop spiritually. Once they have helped (this may take months or years - it depends on the individual need) they will probably disappear as unexpectedly as they arrived. Don't let this upset you - be thankful they have been in your life.