WITCHES FAMILIARS

In folklore, particularly in early modern Europe, familiars were believed to be supernatural beings, often taking the form of animals, that served as companions and assistants to witches. These spirits, sometimes referred to asimps or low-ranking demons, were thought to communicate with witches, provide magical assistance, act as spies, and subsist by feeding on their owner's blood, often from a "witch's teat". Common forms included cats, dogs, toads, mice, and weasels, though other more fantastical or composite creatures were also described.