What should I do if my cat ate Meadow Buttercup?

Remove your cat from the area and take any plant material out of the mouth. Do NOT give home antidotes and do NOT induce vomiting unless your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) tells you to. Confirm your cat is breathing and acting normally, then call the helpline or your vet. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) any time you see persistent drooling, mouth sores, repeated vomiting, or unsteadiness. A single bitter mouthful that the cat spits out is usually self-limiting, but escalate if signs don't resolve within a few hours.

What should I do if my dog ate Meadow Buttercup?

Remove your dog from the area and take any plant pieces out of the mouth. Do NOT give home antidotes and do NOT induce vomiting unless told to by your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Confirm your dog is breathing and acting normally, then call the helpline or your vet for guidance. Call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) if your dog ate more than a single mouthful, is drooling persistently, has visible mouth blisters, vomits more than once, or seems unsteady. A nibble that's spit out can usually be watched at home.

Meadow Buttercup — (c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Cahen — Photo by (c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel CaheniNaturalistCC BY

Photo by (c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel CaheniNaturalistCC BY

Pet safety reference

Meadow Buttercup

Q: Is Meadow Buttercup safe for cats?

Meadow Buttercup is potentially toxic to cats. Ingestion can cause significant irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Please contact your veterinarian if your cat has ingested any part of this plant.

Q: Is Meadow Buttercup safe for dogs?

Meadow Buttercup is potentially toxic to dogs. The plant contains protoanemonin, which is irritating to mucous membranes. Seek veterinary care if ingestion is suspected.

Ranunculus acris

Ranunculus acris is a perennial herbaceous plant known for its bright yellow flowers and presence in meadows. It contains compounds that can cause irritation upon contact or ingestion.

Check a list

Common ButtercupFigwortRanunculus acrisTall Buttercup

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Clumping herbaceous perennial
Care: Low

Safety status

Cats & Dogs

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

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

Sources

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

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.

Cats — concern notes

Common signs

Drooling, oral irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Escalation note

Ingestion can cause significant irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Please contact your veterinarian if your cat has ingested any part of this plant.

Dogs — concern notes

Common signs

Excessive salivation, mouth blistering, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Escalation note

The plant contains protoanemonin, which is irritating to mucous membranes. Seek veterinary care if ingestion is suspected.

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

Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is listed as toxic to both cats and dogs.

Kew Plants of the World Online

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted botanical name and distribution data for Ranunculus acris.

cats safety page My cat ate Meadow Buttercup dogs safety page My dog ate Meadow Buttercup

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Meadow Buttercup vs Buttercup

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Same growing conditions

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