Can Cats Eat Eggs? How to Safely Feed Eggs to Cats

One: Can Cats Eat Eggs?

Absolutely! Cats can consume eggs, but as with any food, moderation is key. When feeding your cat eggs, it's important to control the amount and frequency to avoid an excess of calories.

On average, a 4.5kilogram cat should consume around 246 calories per day. An egg contains approximately 74 calories (310 kilojoules), which is less than onethird of the cat's daily caloric requirement.

Two: What Are the Benefits of Eggs?

Eggs are rich in easily digestible protein and provide numerous essential nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, B12, D, and E, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, iron, zinc, calcium, omega3 fatty acids, amino acids (arginine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, alanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, heme, and penicillin), and antioxidants.

Therefore, eggs are a highquality source of protein for cats, not only promoting healthy fur but also supplementing taurine to protect the eyes and heart.

Three: Can Eggs Be a Cat's Main Diet?

Although eggs contain many beneficial nutrients, they are not nutritionally balanced or complete. Cats are obligate carnivores and require a diet primarily composed of animal proteins. Therefore, eggs cannot be used as a main food source.

Generally, the amount of eggs in a cat's diet should not exceed 10%.

Four: Can Cats Eat Raw Eggs?

Remember! Never feed your cat raw eggs, as they can easily lead to salmonella infection, a zoonotic bacterial infection that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Cats can also be infected with E. coli, a bacterial infection that can lead to bloody diarrhea.

What about sterile eggs? Unfortunately, even though sterile eggs lack bacteria, they are still not suitable for cats. The reason for this will be explained in the next question.

Five: Can Cats Eat Egg Whites?

It depends. Raw egg whites should not be fed to cats due to the risk of bacteria and the presence of a protein called avidin, which binds to biotin (vitamin B7) in the intestines, leading to a deficiency in vitamin B7.

What about cooked egg whites? They are the same, but at least they don't carry the risk of bacteria. However, "all things in moderation, and toxicity is a matter of quantity." There is a possibility that if eggs are fed longterm and account for 18.5% of the diet without the蛋黄, which is rich in vitamin B7, it can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B7.

But be aware: it is the longterm and excessive consumption that can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B7. In fact, no one would only feed egg whites without yolks longterm. Feeding a cat one whole egg in moderation will not have any negative effects.

Six: How to Feed Cats Eggs

Boiled, steamed, or fried eggs are all acceptable. You can also make eggmilk porridge or egg steamed meat. In any case, before feeding your cat, make sure to cool the eggs and cut them into appropriately sized pieces.

Seven: Can All Cats Eat Eggs?

No, the following types of cats should avoid eggs:

① Some cats may be allergic to eggs. When feeding your cat eggs for the first time, start with a small amount and observe for any adverse allergic reactions. During this trial period, do not feed other types of food; just feed eggs.

② Cats that are overweight or need to lose weight. Eggs are high in cholesterol and calories, so if your cat is overweight or needs to lose weight, it's best to avoid extra intake.

③ Young kittens that have not yet started eating solid food. Kitten intestines are not fully developed and cannot handle eggs. However, if a kitten has weaned, eggs can be introduced as a complementary food, such as eggmilk porridge, or as weaning food to help the kitten transition from milk.

Eight: How Many Eggs Should a Cat Eat?

Once or twice a week is appropriate, but they should not be eaten every day. Moreover, eggs should not make up more than 10% of the cat's diet.

Nine: Are Other Eggs Suitable?

Yes, cats can also eat duck eggs and goose eggs, which are excellent sources of protein. However, the 10% rule still applies.

Ten: What Other Precautions Should Be Taken?

① Do not feed expired eggs.

② Wash your hands before and after handling eggs.

③ Be aware of any signs of allergies, such as itching, scratching, swelling, and difficulty breathing. If the latter occurs, seek veterinary attention immediately.

④ Do not eat eggs that have cracks.

With that, we hope all your questions about whether cats can eat eggs have been answered! We hope you'll remember this information and share it with others when someone asks about cats and eggs in the future.