Salad Burnet — (c) B. Phalan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by B. Phalan
Photo by (c) B. Phalan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by B. PhalaniNaturalistCC BY
cat safety reference

Is Salad Burnet safe for cats?

Poterium sanguisorba

Salad Burnet is a perennial herb known for its cucumber-flavored leaves often used in culinary applications. It is considered safe for household pets, though large ingestions of fibrous plant material may occasionally cause minor digestive upset.

Garden BurnetPoterium sanguisorbaSanguisorba minorSmall Burnet
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Habit
Clumping perennial
Care
Low

Safety status

Cats

Generally safe

Consulted references do not classify the plant as toxic for that pet type, while still allowing for mild GI upset if large amounts are chewed.

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

What this means for your cat

Cats can nibble Salad Burnet without alarm — ASPCA classifies Poterium sanguisorba as non-toxic to cats, with no toxic principle on file.

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

None expected; however, consumption of large amounts of fibrous plant matter may lead to mild vomiting or diarrhea.

Escalation note

Generally considered non-toxic. If your cat consumes a large quantity and exhibits persistent gastrointestinal distress, contact your veterinarian.

Bring it home

Salad Burnetis generally pet-safe in ordinary household exposure. If you’d like one for your space, here’s a starting point.

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Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Salad Burnet is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

NC State Extension Plant Toolbox

botanical · 94% reliability

Open source

Poterium sanguisorba is a hardy perennial herb often grown in herb gardens for its edible leaves.

Cats & dogs pagedogs page

Questions about Salad Burnet

Is Salad Burnet toxic to cats?

Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba) is considered non-toxic to cats. It is classified as generally safe, meaning no toxic principles are known that would harm your cat from a normal nibble.

What happens if my cat eats Salad Burnet?

Most cats will experience no symptoms at all. If your cat eats a large amount of the fibrous leaves, mild vomiting or diarrhea is possible due to the bulk plant matter, not any toxic compound.

How much Salad Burnet would cause a problem for my cat?

Small to moderate amounts are very unlikely to cause any reaction. Problems, if they occur, are limited to GI upset from large ingestions of fibrous plant material — the kind of upset any fibrous plant might cause, not a poisoning response.

Should I call my vet if my cat ate Salad Burnet?

A single exposure is not an emergency. If your cat ate a large quantity and shows persistent vomiting or diarrhea that does not resolve within a few hours, contact your veterinarian for guidance.

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