Not exactly. For starters, a cactus is a succulent, but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents store water in their stems, leaves, roots, and arms. This water storage makes them capable of surviving without being watered. Cacti have small round cushion structures, called areoles. Flowers and hair can grow in the areoles. Lastly, cacti typically have thick, tough skin and rarely have leaves. If a succulent does not have any of these features, then it is not considered a cactus.