Caraway
Carum carvi · Apiaceae
How it looks
Caraway is a small herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae) with fine, feather-shaped leaves and small white flowers gathered in an umbrella shape. It grows 20 in-3 ft (50 cm-1 m) tall, and its long, slender brown seeds (caraway seeds) are used as a spice.
Safe for cats
Caraway is listed as non-toxic to cats by the ASPCA. An occasional nibble is unlikely to cause any real trouble.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Caraway rarely leads to serious trouble, but its carvone and limonene can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Carum carvi
- Common name
- Caraway
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Essential oils (carvone, limonene)
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
