No, money plants are non-toxic to cats.
A member of the family Malvaceae, Pachira aquatica is commercially sold worldwide as the money plant or money tree. It is said that a poor man prayed for financial abundance, discovered the plant, took it home, and earned money from growing its seeds. Aside from money plant, it is called Malabar chestnut, French peanut, Guiana chestnut, Monguba, Provision tree, Saba nut, and Pumpo.
Safe for pets, cats and even dogs can be around money plants. There are no toxic principles that can harm pets from its shiny green leaves to its thick, braided trunk. Nevertheless, pets should not play with the plant, soil, or pot it is planted in.
What to do if your cat accidentally comes into contact with, chews, or eats money plants: Nothing bad should result from your pet being in the same space as or playing with the money tree. However, if you applied harmful chemicals on the plant or soil, your cat may experience poisoning. This depends on how much she ingested or how strong the chemicals are.
If this happens, take away the remaining parts of the plant from your cat. Keep her in a confined area so you can observe her closely. Watch her for possible symptoms of poisoning. Common signs include salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, twitching and fitting, and shock or collapse. She may also display skin inflammation or swelling, depression or coma, and changes in her drinking, urinating, and eating habits.
In summary: Money plants can be a lovely and cat-safe addition to your indoor plant collection. Just make sure you don’t spray anything on its leaves or mix chemicals into the soil that may harm your pet. Note that money plants are different from jade plants, which are also called money plants or money trees. Jade plants are mildly toxic to cats.
Aside from money plants, discover which plants and flowers are safe for pets by checking the lists created by ASPCA, PetMD, and Pet Poison Helpline. If you already grow plants indoors, find out more ways on how you can cat-proof them by reading this article.
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