Imagine this. It has been a very busy week. You barely even have the time to get a full 8-hour sleep. You’re always hurrying yourself in the shower, trying to catch that 7 o’clock bus. Just when you’re about to step out of the door, you hear little Clawsby purr. Uh-oh.
It looks like you almost forgot to leave something for him for breakfast. Then you see your untouched boiled egg, presenting its self, cooled down and clean. You have always had eggs, but you’ve never actually tried offering it to your pet. Then a question struck your mind …
Can Cats Eat Eggs?
That seems like an odd question, don’t you think? But it serves useful in moments like this.
Lucky you, this article is just about everything you need to know about your cat’s appetite for eggs.
About cats and eggs – what you should keep in mind?
Eggs are usually the stars of the breakfast show alongside with bacon. Every mom in the world has their secret egg recipe tucked in the deepest pockets of their apron.
Sunny-side-up, scrambled, omelet, frittata – these are just some of the one hundred and one ways to make our eggs. But I wonder… can we also make it into cat food?
Well, let’s see about that.
Eggs are an excellent source of protein with an average of six grams per serving. It’s true! Try to look it up.
Aside from this, it is jam packed with thirteen other essential vitamins and minerals. But I will not bore you with all the details of its nutritional value. I just want you to know of the benefits eggs have blessed us, humans, at the cost of a very cheap price, I must add. But how about cats? Do eggs have the same effect to them as to us?
As we all know, humans and cats have quite a different digestive system. The difference does not only lie on shapes and sizes but also in the way they recognize a particular food in their body. So it is never safe to assume that what is edible to us humans can be safely consumed by cats.
I know. Eggs are not even a very popular cat food idea. Some people may have never thought of feeding their cats some eggs. You might even find it a little silly to be asking this to yourself. But guess what?
Once upon a time, felines used to hunt for eggs fresh from the bird’s nest. Those were the times when cats need to survive in the wild and eggs are one of those meals accessible to them. Domesticated cats, however, have been accustomed to cat food served by their humans.
I bet you have never seen your kitty going crazy at a sight of a dozen eggs now. This is because times have changed. The cravings of pre-historic felines are slightly different from that of the modern day cats.
Then again, cats may have slowly adapted to the ways of the present, but their appetite for eggs has not changed completely.
Can cats eat eggs?
The answer is YES.
Studies show that cats are accomplished of digesting eggs. As it turns out, cats can tolerate eating cooked or even uncooked eggs.
So for us cat owners, that is one less worry off the list. It is also nice to know other safe food choices that we could add to the variety of foods our cats can eat other than the assortment of kibbles.
Tumbles would love to have some eggs; that is for sure. But aside from the taste, eggs are also very nutritious. Some call egg yolks as a nutrition powerhouse. A lot of people might decide on skipping on the yolks because of fear of bad cholesterol and unsaturated fat.
Specifically, egg yolks contain Vitamin A, D, E, B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B6, B9 (Folate), B12, Choline, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Selenium. I mean, wow! All that in a little sunshine of goodness.
But if you’re greedy for more, good thing it also contains phospholipids which are good for the cardiovascular and metabolic health. Egg whites, too, contain protein and you know how much kitties love that stuff.
Protein is responsible for strengthening our cats’ hair, building their muscles and repairing their tissues. It makes their coats shinier and their hair healthier! No designer shampoo can measure to the results of health from within.
Protein from eggs (and from other grow foods) also provides cats the energy they need for the day. Lack of protein may cause the cat to slow down, stay hungry, gain weight, and lose muscle mass. So if you notice little Lucifer being less meowy, he might need a little more meat.
This shows that all the grooming materials and trips to the cat salon cannot suffice to what protein does to make are cats as cute as a button!
We must always remember that cats have very different needs compared to humans when it comes to food. Humans are omnivores, meaning, we are on both animal-based and plant-based diet.
Cats, on the other hand, are obligate carnivores. That is just a fancy way of saying that cats are flesh-eating animals and that being carnivorous is biological essential for their survival. They badly need meat and animal protein in their main diet. Good thing, both cooked and raw eggs are a safe choice.
But not so fast! Don’t just grab an egg and give it to your cat fresh from the fridge. It is still advisable to boil the egg first. Why is that, you might ask?
Can cats eat raw eggs?
The answer is NO.
What do raw eggs contain?
- Feeding our cats raw or uncooked eggs put them at risk of Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter. Salmonella is a group of bacteria which causes food poisoning and other diseases in the intestinal tract. In most cases, this is acquired through contaminated meat, poultry and, wait for it – eggs! It is advisable to cook the eggs before feeding it to cats.
- Raw eggs may also contain an enzyme called avidin. Avidin is bad because it decreases the absorption of a B Vitamin called Biotin which is essential to the cat’s health.
- Some cats are allergic to eggs. It is actually one of the most common food allergies cats have aside from fish, beef and chicken. If your cat belongs to the group of felines allergic to eggs, better check canned cat food since some companies add the egg as an ingredient to add protein value.
How often should cat eat eggs? The suitable amount we should feed
I wish I could say, “An egg a day, keeps the vet away!” That would be really catchy. It is not ideal, though. “Everything in moderation” as a popular diet advice says. This promotes the notion of balance and avoidance to extremes.
Meaning, you can eat some of it, but not so much of it. You can have some of those today, but not every day. This one also goes for cat diets. Yes, eggs can be eaten by cats safely. Yes, eggs are delicious, and your cats will surely enjoy it. But that does not mean it is okay to feed them half a dozen of eggs on a daily basis. I know you would not do that, though. That’s just crazy!
Some people might be scared of feeding their cats egg whited because it may ruin their pet’s coat. For clarification, that would only be possible if you feed your kitty an egg white only diet for an extended period of time.
Too much egg may be one of the contributing factors to feline obesity.
None of these is going to be a problem when the egg feeding is controlled.
How to feed the right way
There are a lot of creative ways to feed your cat the eggs he likes.
- For starters, you could boil the egg, chop them into tiny pieces, and add them to your cat’s kibble for additional flavor. It also adds up to the total nutritional value of the meal.
- Eggs are also a good choice for snacks. Simply prepare the egg into bite-size pieces and let your kitty nibble on his well-deserved treat.
- And here is a tip: Don’t just throw away the eggshells once you’re done with your eggs. Using a food processor or maybe a coffee grinder, you can grind the dry eggshells and make them into cat food sprinkles. Later on, you can actually add some on top of your cat’s food to bring in more nutrients to their meal. Don’t worry about the possibility of them choking on it. As long as it is prepared properly, everything should be just fine. The eggshells will bring in Calcium to their system for stronger teeth and bones. You’re welcome!
- Feeding your cat half-boiled or raw eggs is also an option. But it is still better to give them those which were cooked. You could discover more about this in the next section.
What will happen to cats?
An allergic reaction is a possibility when cats are fed with eggs. As it turns out, food allergy is one of the most common feline allergies coming third to the flea allergy and inhalant allergy.
Cats who suffer from allergy usually experience rashes around the ears and face. But always check for ticks before concluding that it’s all about food allergies. Non-seasonal itching can be concentrated on the front half of the body. It can also occur on the face, ears, and neck. This could lead to otitis externa or the inflammation caused by scratches which could result in ear infections.
You may also notice some fluid-filled bumps called papules in the affected area. And because you can’t tie their paws to stop them from scratching, they may suffer from a lot of hair loss. No shampoo can stop an allergy caused hair fall. In severe cases, allergies may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Is there any drawback when feeding cats with eggs?
Put this on answer no.
Rumor has it that cholesterol in eggs causes the heart attack in human beings. If that is true, then there is this fear that eggs should have the same effect on cats too. That is one of the main concerns cat owners have in the community. Thank the heavens for research! Based on studies, it is proven that eggs are not the main perpetrator of heart attacks.
Even though eggs are nutritious, still, it is not composed of all the nutrients necessary to sustain our cats. Feeding our cats egg all the time would result in deficiencies and malnutrition.
Bottom line: Cats and eggs
Veterinary practitioners have found the cat diet as a topic of controversy in their field of expertise. So it is not unusual that we question the safety of everything we put into our cat’s mouth.
Unlike dogs, cats are carnivores, and they have a different way of processing the food and breaking down nutrients into something their body could use, or at least, tolerate. Even though it is fairly obvious that eggs are for safe eating, we can never be for sure unless we research on it. Fortunately, we have found out that eggs can actually be a safe part of a cat’s diet.
Eggs can be served to our cats may they be cooked or raw. However, it is better to serve them cooked to fight the risk of Salmonella and other bacteria. Better safe than sorry, am I right?
Eggs also give our cats a lot of nutritional benefits. Eggs, both the whites and yolks, are an excellent source of protein and a lot of other vitamins and minerals. It will do wonders to their fur! But always keep everything in moderation. We do not want our cat to gain some unwanted weight. You can only plump her up so much, you know.
Overall, eggs are a healthy choice of food for cats.
I hope this article gave you the information you needed. Drop by in the comment section and let us know what you think. If you like to help out some of your fellow cat owners, hit share and spread the love and information!
