La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 optimally doped epitaxial films were grown on ferroelectric BaTiO 3 substrates. Electronic transport (magnetoresistance and electroresistance) and magnetic properties showed important anomalies in the temperature interval between 60 and 150 K, below the metal-insulator transition. Scanning probe microscopy revealed changes in BaTiO 3 surface morphology at those temperatures. La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 thickness is a critical factor: 120-Å-thick films showed large anomalies sensitive to electric poling of the BaTiO 3 , whereas the behavior of 150-Å-thick films is closer to that of the reference La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 samples grown on SrTiO 3 . We propose that, through inhomogenous strain and electric polarization effects, the ferroelectric substrate induces an inhomogenous spin distribution in the magnetic layer. This would imply the coexistence of in-plane and out-of-plane ferromagnetic patches in La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 , possibly interspersed with antiferromagnetic regions, as it has recently been theoretically predicted. Substrate poling effects are investigated, and a magnetoelectric coupling is demonstrated.