Golden Ragwort
Senecio species · Asteraceae
How it looks
Golden Ragwort (Cineraria) is a plant with toothed, rounded leaves and small yellow daisy-like flowers that gather at the branch tips. It reaches 12-31 in (30-80 cm) tall, is common in the wild and in wetlands, and has deeply toothed, lobed leaves toward the lower part.
Dangerous — liver damage from repeated exposure
All parts of Golden Ragwort contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to the liver. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, and repeated exposure or large amounts can progress to liver failure.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Guide for parents
Golden ragwort is a wild plant in the daisy family. It is not a toxin that drops a cat acutely, but it contains a compound that slowly damages the liver when eaten a little at a time, repeatedly. The real problem is the cumulative liver injury rather than the immediate stomach upset.
What makes it risky
The whole plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Rather than causing one dramatic incident, these build up damage in liver cells through repeated exposure. It is common around yards and walking paths, so cats that go outdoors often get exposed while nibbling on greenery.
How symptoms progress
Right after eating, you may see mild stomach signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and reduced appetite. The catch is that liver damage progresses quietly, without obvious outward signs. As repeated ingestions add up, signs of chronic liver decline — jaundice, listlessness, poor appetite — may appear over time.
What to do right now
After a single small nibble, rinse the mouth with water and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, and energy levels. But if there is a pattern of repeated nibbling, or if stomach signs last more than 12 hours or appetite drops noticeably, consult your vet. Liver values can shift before outward signs appear, so if exposure has been frequent, it is safer to confirm with bloodwork.
Details
- Scientific name
- Senecio species
- Common name
- Golden Ragwort
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, Sesquiterpene lactones
- Source
- ASPCA
Related plants
Same plant family· Asteraceae
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