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Pet safety

Is Large-Leaved Butterwort toxic to cats?

Pinguicula macrophylla

Mildly toxic to cats

Mildly. The ASPCA lists large-leaved butterwort as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Pinguicula macrophylla is not specifically listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. The genus Pinguicula is not among the known highly toxic plant groups. Ingestion may cause mild, transient gastrointestinal upset in cats and dogs. A precautionary mildly-toxic rating is applied pending confirmed ASPCA non-toxic status.

What to do if your cat ate large-leaved butterwort

  1. Remove any plant material from your cat's mouth and move large-leaved butterwort out of reach.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and watch for drooling, vomiting, or lethargy.
  3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison-control specialist instructs you to.
  4. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice.
  5. Bring a leaf or photo of large-leaved butterwort to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. If you think your cat has eaten large-leaved butterwort, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Is large-leaved butterwort toxic to cats? — FAQ

Is large-leaved butterwort toxic to cats?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists large-leaved butterwort as mildly toxic to cats — a chewing cat typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. Pinguicula macrophylla is not specifically listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. The genus Pinguicula is not among the known highly toxic plant groups. Ingestion may cause mild, transient gastrointestinal upset in cats and dogs. A precautionary mildly-toxic rating is applied pending confirmed ASPCA non-toxic status.

What are the symptoms if a cat eats large-leaved butterwort?

Pinguicula macrophylla is not specifically listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. The genus Pinguicula is not among the known highly toxic plant groups. Ingestion may cause mild, transient gastrointestinal upset in cats and dogs. A precautionary mildly-toxic rating is applied pending confirmed ASPCA non-toxic status. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your cat has had access to large-leaved butterwort.

What should I do if my cat ate large-leaved butterwort?

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your cat's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

Is large-leaved butterwort toxic to dogs too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Large-Leaved Butterwort is mildly toxic to dogs as well. See the full large-leaved butterwort pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a cat-safe alternative to large-leaved butterwort?

For a similar look without the risk, see the best cats-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Full large-leaved butterwort pet-safety