Pet safety
Is Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) safe for cats and dogs?
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) is not listed by the ASPCA, but reputable horticultural sources treat it as safe for cats and dogs.
Considered safe
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) (Pilea peperomioides) is not listed in the ASPCA database; this assessment follows reputable horticultural sources and errs on the side of caution. It is treated as safe for cats and dogs.
Why there is no ASPCA entry for Pilea (Chinese Money Plant)
The ASPCA lists four Pilea species and Pilea peperomioides is not among them. The four are Creeping Pilea (Pilea nummulariifolia), Pilea Microphylla, Pilea Mucosa, also filed as Pilea microphylla, and Watermelon Pilea (Pilea cadieri). Every one of them is non-toxic, and three of the four are cleared for horses as well as dogs and cats. So the genus is well represented in the database and consistently harmless, but the specific plant on this page has no entry, which is why it carries no ASPCA citation.
Do not confuse Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) with Jade Plant
Money is the problem word here. This plant is sold as the Chinese money plant, and shops also sell the jade plant as a money plant or money tree. Both have round, fleshy, coin-shaped leaves, which is where all three names come from. The ASPCA lists jade under Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant and Japanese rubber plant, and marks it toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Pilea is a safe plant with no entry; jade is a listed toxic one. A third plant, the Pachira money tree, is listed non-toxic, so two of the three money plants are fine and the jade is not. The ASPCA lists Jade Plant (Crassula argentea) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses, toxic principle Unknown, with clinical signs: Vomiting, depression, incoordination. Read the ASPCA entry for Jade Plant. If you are unsure which one you have, treat it as the toxic plant until you can confirm, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your pet has eaten any of it.
What this verdict does and does not mean
Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
More on pet safety
Read the full care guide for Pilea (Chinese Money Plant), browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.