Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My cat ate Mayweed - what should I do?
Anthemis cotula
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Dermatitis, oral irritation, drooling, and potential gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
Escalation note
Contact with the plant can cause skin irritation. If ingestion occurs, monitor for vomiting or lethargy and contact your veterinarian.
First aid at home
If your cat brushed against the plant, rinse the affected fur with cool water and mild pet shampoo to remove residue. For ingestion, remove plant material from the mouth and call your vet. Do not induce vomiting at home.
What to watch for
Skin contact: contact dermatitis with redness, itching, and patchy hair loss where the cat brushed the plant. Ingestion: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and decreased appetite. Allergic-type reactions are possible. Long-term exposure has been associated with bleeding tendencies.
Time window
Specific onset timing isn't well documented for cats. Skin reactions typically appear within hours of contact; GI signs after ingestion usually emerge within a few hours and resolve in 24 to 48 hours with supportive care.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or ASPCA APCC (1-888-426-4435) if your cat shows persistent vomiting, refuses food for more than a meal or two, or develops a skin reaction that's spreading or oozing. Get in immediately for any allergic-type swelling.
What this means for your cat
Mayweed (also called stinking chamomile) is toxic to cats. The volatile oils — bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid, and tannic acid — can cause both contact dermatitis on the skin and GI upset if your cat chews the leaves or flowers. Most exposures in cats are skin-related rather than from eating it.
Sources: ASPCA, NC State Extension.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.