Can Cats Eat Eggs?

The short answer: Yes and no.

The long answer: Eggs are a great source of protein and fat for your cat. Since cats are obligate carnivores (meaning they need animal protein in their daily diet), eggs can be included to supplement kitty’s diet. However, there are conditions for feeding eggs to your cat.

Kittens and cats should never eat raw eggs because they might contain salmonella. This bacteria may not only harm your pet, but also you and other members of the household. Signs of salmonella include vomiting, high fever, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. A bad case of salmonella may need supportive care, fluids, antibiotic treatment, or hospitalisation.

On the other hand, cats can eat cooked eggs, but only those without salt, garlic, onion, and other seasonings. Take note that egg yolks contain mostly fat with protein, while egg whites contain protein without fat. So if forced to choose one part of the egg, your cat will benefit from consuming egg whites than egg yolks. Egg shells are also known to contain calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, but your cat may not enjoy eating it.

How to feed eggs to your cat: Wash your eggs properly. Observe the shell for any cracks, powder, or slime. Break it open and check the egg white and the egg yolk’s appearance and smell. Remove the egg yolk and cook the egg white without any artificial flavourings, heavy oils, and unnecessary ingredients.

Feed your cat only a small amount of egg white. About 1 tablespoon will help supplement his protein needs.

Here are three ideas for egg treats your cat will love:

Try this tuna meal for your kitty consisting of egg, tuna, and canola oil.
Offer your cat some fluffy scrambled eggs simply made of egg whites.
Make a quick and easy salmon treat for your cat using egg, canned salmon, and flour.

In summary: Cooked eggs may be a worthy addition to your cat’s diet. When consumed correctly, she may benefit from taking in its good fatty acids, vitamins B12, D, and B6, plus minerals such as iron, copper, and zinc. As always, check with your veterinarian before feeding your cat anything new. She may have an egg allergy that you may not know of.