diff --git a/pytiled_parser/layer.py b/pytiled_parser/layer.py
index 58bcc98..ede3375 100644
--- a/pytiled_parser/layer.py
+++ b/pytiled_parser/layer.py
@@ -402,7 +402,9 @@ def _cast_tile_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> TileLayer:
     return tile_layer
 
 
-def _cast_object_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> ObjectLayer:
+def _cast_object_layer(
+    raw_layer: RawLayer, parent_dir: Optional[Path] = None
+) -> ObjectLayer:
     """Cast the raw_layer to an ObjectLayer.
 
     Args:
@@ -413,7 +415,7 @@ def _cast_object_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> ObjectLayer:
 
     tiled_objects = []
     for tiled_object_ in raw_layer["objects"]:
-        tiled_objects.append(tiled_object.cast(tiled_object_))
+        tiled_objects.append(tiled_object.cast(tiled_object_, parent_dir))
 
     return ObjectLayer(
         tiled_objects=tiled_objects,
@@ -441,7 +443,9 @@ def _cast_image_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> ImageLayer:
     return image_layer
 
 
-def _cast_group_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> LayerGroup:
+def _cast_group_layer(
+    raw_layer: RawLayer, parent_dir: Optional[Path] = None
+) -> LayerGroup:
     """Cast the raw_layer to a LayerGroup.
 
     Args:
@@ -454,7 +458,7 @@ def _cast_group_layer(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> LayerGroup:
     layers = []
 
     for layer in raw_layer["layers"]:
-        layers.append(cast(layer))
+        layers.append(cast(layer, parent_dir))
 
     return LayerGroup(layers=layers, **_get_common_attributes(raw_layer).__dict__)
 
@@ -477,7 +481,7 @@ def _get_caster(type_: str) -> Callable[[RawLayer], Layer]:
     return casters[type_]
 
 
-def cast(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> Layer:
+def cast(raw_layer: RawLayer, parent_dir: Optional[Path] = None) -> Layer:
     """Cast a raw Tiled layer into a pytiled_parser type.
 
     This function will determine the type of layer and cast accordingly.
@@ -490,4 +494,10 @@ def cast(raw_layer: RawLayer) -> Layer:
     """
     caster = _get_caster(raw_layer["type"])
 
-    return caster(raw_layer)
+    if (
+        caster.__name__ == "_cast_object_layer"
+        or caster.__name__ == "_cast_group_layer"
+    ):
+        return caster(raw_layer, parent_dir)
+    else:
+        return caster(raw_layer)
diff --git a/pytiled_parser/template.py b/pytiled_parser/template.py
deleted file mode 100644
index c6d58d8..0000000
--- a/pytiled_parser/template.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-# pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
-
-import attr
-
-
-@attr.s(auto_attribs=True)
-class Template:
-    """FIXME TODO"""
diff --git a/pytiled_parser/tiled_map.py b/pytiled_parser/tiled_map.py
index 9c98456..ce8975a 100644
--- a/pytiled_parser/tiled_map.py
+++ b/pytiled_parser/tiled_map.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def parse_map(file: Path) -> TiledMap:
     map_ = TiledMap(
         map_file=file,
         infinite=raw_tiled_map["infinite"],
-        layers=[layer.cast(layer_) for layer_ in raw_tiled_map["layers"]],
+        layers=[layer.cast(layer_, parent_dir) for layer_ in raw_tiled_map["layers"]],
         map_size=Size(raw_tiled_map["width"], raw_tiled_map["height"]),
         next_layer_id=raw_tiled_map["nextlayerid"],
         next_object_id=raw_tiled_map["nextobjectid"],
diff --git a/pytiled_parser/tiled_object.py b/pytiled_parser/tiled_object.py
index f4d95f4..4c4c649 100644
--- a/pytiled_parser/tiled_object.py
+++ b/pytiled_parser/tiled_object.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
-
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 import attr
@@ -174,6 +175,7 @@ class RawTiledObject(TypedDict):
 
     id: int
     gid: int
+    template: str
     x: float
     y: float
     width: float
@@ -390,7 +392,9 @@ def _get_caster(
     return _cast_rectangle
 
 
-def cast(raw_tiled_object: RawTiledObject) -> TiledObject:
+def cast(
+    raw_tiled_object: RawTiledObject, parent_dir: Optional[Path] = None
+) -> TiledObject:
     """Cast the raw tiled object into a pytiled_parser type
 
     Args:
@@ -399,6 +403,18 @@ def cast(raw_tiled_object: RawTiledObject) -> TiledObject:
     Returns:
         TiledObject: a properly typed Tiled object.
     """
+    if raw_tiled_object.get("template"):
+        if not parent_dir:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "A parent directory must be specified when using object templates"
+            )
+        template_path = Path(parent_dir / raw_tiled_object["template"])
+        with open(template_path) as raw_template_file:
+            loaded_template = json.load(raw_template_file)["object"]
+            for key in loaded_template:
+                if key != "id":
+                    raw_tiled_object[key] = loaded_template[key]  # type: ignore
+
     caster = _get_caster(raw_tiled_object)
 
     tiled_object = caster(raw_tiled_object)