Mayweed
Anthemis cotula · Asteraceae
How it looks
Mayweed is a weed bearing small daisy-shaped flowers with a yellow center and 5–15 white petals. The leaves are feather-like and deeply divided, and give off a strong, unpleasant smell when touched. It stands 12–24 in (30–60 cm) tall.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Mayweed contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling 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 Mayweed rarely leads to serious trouble, but its sesquiterpene lactones 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
- Anthemis cotula
- Common name
- Mayweed
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Sesquiterpene lactones
- 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
