Chamomile
Anthemis nobilis · Asteraceae
How it looks
Chamomile bears small daisy-shaped flowers made up of a yellow center and 5-20 white petals. The leaves are fine, feather-shaped, and deeply divided, with an apple-like scent. It grows herb-like to about 12-24 in (30-60 cm) tall.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Chamomile contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Chamomile rarely leads to serious trouble, but the chamazulene and alpha-bisabolol it contains irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild digestive upset. Make a habit of picking up fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot out of your cat's reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat's appetite drops noticeably, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Anthemis nobilis
- Common name
- Chamomile
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Chamazulene, Alpha-bisabolol
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
