What should I do if my cat ate Ranger's Button?

Call your vet if you see spreading skin lesions, blistering, the skin is painful to the touch, or your cat seems systemically unwell after a known ingestion. Keep an exposed cat indoors and out of direct sunlight while you sort out next steps. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.

What should I do if my dog ate Ranger's Button?

Call your vet if you see skin lesions developing, persistent drooling, vomiting, refusal of more than one meal, or any breathing difficulty. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 right away if a large amount was eaten.

Ranger's Button — (c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) — Photo by (c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY)iNaturalistCC BY

Photo by (c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY)iNaturalistCC BY

Pet safety reference

Ranger's Button

Q: Is Ranger's Button safe for cats?

Ranger's Button is potentially toxic to cats. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your cat has consumed any part of this plant.

Q: Is Ranger's Button safe for dogs?

Ranger's Button is potentially toxic to dogs. Ingestion may lead to systemic irritation. Always consult a veterinarian if your dog shows signs of illness after exposure to this plant.

Sphenosciadium capitellatum

Ranger's Button is a perennial herb native to the western United States, known for its distinct, button-like flower clusters. It is considered toxic to pets if ingested and should be kept out of reach.

Check a list

Ranger's ButtonSphenosciadium capitellatumSwamp White Heads

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Herbaceous perennial
Care: Moderate

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, vomiting, diarrhea, and potential lethargy.

Escalation note

Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your cat has consumed any part of this plant.

Dogs — concern notes

Common signs

Vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and excessive salivation.

Escalation note

Ingestion may lead to systemic irritation. Always consult a veterinarian if your dog shows signs of illness after exposure to this plant.

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

The ASPCA lists Sphenosciadium capitellatum as toxic to both cats and dogs.

Kew Plants of the World Online

botanical · 95% reliability

Open source

Accepted scientific name and distribution data for Sphenosciadium capitellatum.

cats safety page My cat ate Ranger's Button dogs safety page My dog ate Ranger's Button

Same safety verdict

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Ranunculus spp.

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Potentially toxic for cats & dogs.

Cow Parsnip

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Cow parsnip is a large, herbaceous perennial member of the carrot family known for its tall stature and umbrella-like flower clusters. It contains furanocoumarins that can cause significant skin and mucosal irritation upon contact.

Potentially toxic for cats & dogs.

Dock

Rumex sp.

Dock is a genus of perennial herbs often found in fields and gardens that contains soluble calcium oxalates. Ingestion of any part of the plant can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract.

Potentially toxic for cats & dogs.

Peony

Paeonia officinalis

The peony is a popular garden perennial known for its large, showy blooms. While prized for its beauty, all parts of the plant contain paeonol, which can cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested by pets.

Potentially toxic for cats & dogs.