Yellowrocket — (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
Photo by (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas GoldmaniNaturalistCC BY-SA
cat safety reference

Is Yellowrocket safe for cats?

Barbarea vulgaris

Yellowrocket is a hardy, flowering biennial herb often found in fields and gardens. While it is considered non-toxic to pets, ingestion of large amounts of fibrous plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset.

Barbarea vulgarisBittercressHerb BarbaraWinter Cress
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Habit
Rosette-forming biennial
Care
Low

Safety status

Cats

Uncertain

Identity or evidence quality is not strong enough for a firm answer.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your cat

Cats are not the species at risk from Yellowrocket. ASPCA lists Barbarea vulgaris as non-toxic to cats — the isothiocyanate toxicity it carries is a horse-and-livestock concern, not a feline one. A curious cat that mouths the bitter mustardy foliage is much more likely to spit it out than to swallow enough to matter.

Sources: ASPCA.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Catsconcern notes

Common signs

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

Escalation note

Under review — original classification flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Yellowrocket is listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

NC State Extension Plant Toolbox

botanical · 94% reliability

Open source

Barbarea vulgaris is a biennial herb in the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as yellowrocket or winter cress.

Cats & dogs pagedogs page

Questions about Yellowrocket

Is yellowrocket toxic to cats?

The safety of yellowrocket (Barbarea vulgaris) for cats is currently uncertain — the plant's classification is under review following a provenance audit in May 2026 and has not yet been verified by a curator. Until a confirmed classification is available, treat it as an unknown risk and keep cats away from it.

What symptoms might a cat show after eating yellowrocket?

Specific symptom data for yellowrocket ingestion in cats is not available at this time, as the classification is pending verification. If your cat has eaten any part of this plant, watch for general signs of GI upset such as vomiting, drooling, or lethargy, and contact your vet.

What should I do if my cat ate yellowrocket?

Because yellowrocket's toxicity status for cats is currently unconfirmed, err on the side of caution: call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Have the plant name (Barbarea vulgaris) ready and note how much your cat may have eaten.

Where does the uncertainty about yellowrocket's safety for cats come from?

According to a provenance audit completed on 2026-05-06, the original classification for yellowrocket was flagged as a likely labeler error and is awaiting curator verification. This means the data that would normally define its toxicity level, expected symptoms, and first-aid guidance has not yet been confirmed as reliable.

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