Eggs are very popular, they include a great balance between protein and fats and are easy to cook, if you are a cat owner, sometimes you’ll feel like your pet could use a treat and you might wonder if eggs are a safe choice.
The short answer is yes! Cats can eat eggs but they should only eat cooked eggs, it’s believed this is a superfood for cats because of its high levels of protein and how easy it is to break down and absorb its nutrients once it has been cooked and certain proteins have been reduced.
This food is nutrient-rich, in eggs, you can find an array of fats and proteins, along with fat-soluble vitamins that are beneficial to your cat’s skin, immune system, kidneys, and many other organs.
Benefits Of Eggs In Cats
Researchers have found out there are between 75 to 85 calories in 1 egg, containing roughly 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat, while also carrying some other essential micronutrients your cat needs:
Vitamins
- Vitamin A: Helps your cat’s vision and immune system.
- Vitamin D: Contributes to muscle growth, bone density, and also supports the nerves.
- Vitamin B1/Thiamine: Helps to metabolize carbohydrates, very important for cats given the fact their bodies are not efficient when it comes to these macronutrients.
- Vitamin B2/Riboflavin: helps with the skin and fur.
- Vitamin B3/Niacin: Needed for the nerves and the digestive system.
- Vitamin B6/Pyridoxine: Important for the kidneys, and the immune system.
Minerals
- Chloride: The AAFCO suggests a cat should ingest roughly 0.3% of this mineral in order to keep its body at the right alkaline levels.
- Iron: To prevent anemia, parasites, and infections.
- Calcium: helps with the whole metabolism, from bones, muscles, nerves to blood.
- Magnesium: aids with the cat’s strength and muscle growth.
- Sodium: The AAFCO suggests a cat should ingest roughly 023% of this mineral in order to help with digestion.
Only Cooked Eggs? What About Raw Eggs?
It’s suggested to stick to cooked eggs, just like in meat, there are several risks associated with eating raw eggs, salmonella, e. Coli, toxoplasmosis, and many others are among the bacterias found in raw animal food that could lead to illnesses, diseases, and death for both humans and cats.
But as long as it is cooked, you and your kitty are good to go and enjoy this delicious food together, your cat can eat scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, and even poached eggs. Please do not consider adding other ingredients such as spices, oil, or butter, this will increase the caloric intake and could lead to weight problems with your cat.
Recommended portions
Some experts suggest you can add a small amount of well-cooked eggs to your cat’s food, make sure the internal temperature is right, you will look for 160°F when being cooked and room temperature at serving.
Word on the street is, scrambled eggs helps to stop a cat’s diarrhea, but this is just a myth, this practice is not recommended by experts, and there are no researches supporting its use, however, low fiber diets are recommended when your cat experiences diarrhea, so this could be somehow related to the common belief around scrambled eggs.
Can Eggs Kill My Cat?
Eggs themselves won’t kill your cat, however, studies performed by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest the presence of many pathogens, including but not limited to, salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, WHO recommends refrigerating the eggs to avoid the spread of diseases.
It’s important to be careful and not overlook this diseases, your cat can get infected and transmit them to you or any other member of the household, we will review some of the symptoms your cat will experience if it gets one of the following diseases:
Salmonella
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Blood loss
- Lack of energy
- Diarrhea
- Body temperatures higher than 102.5º F
- Fatigue
- Decrease of strength
- Loss of body fluids
- Skin rashes
Salmonellosis eventually affect your cat’s intestines and bloodstream, and you’ll find some of the symptoms aforementioned will be intensified, and new ones will appear:
- Low blood pressure due to significant loss of blood, which could also lead to kidney, heart, and liver failure
- Mouth muscles will weaken causing extreme drooling
- Difficulties while breathing
- Bloated stomach
- Smelly anal discharge
To avoid salmonella infection, the following measures are recommended:
- Do not feed raw eggs to your cat.
- Clean any egg residue that might have fallen to the kitchen floor when cracking the eggs. Some studies suggest salmonella can live on surfaces from 4 hours to 4 days.
- Keep the trash out of your cat’s reach, as he might lick the eggshells and get sick.
If your cat shows some of these symptoms, you must pay a visit to the vet at the drop of a hat, make sure you take preventive measures in order not to spread the bacteria across your house. The use of gloves is highly recommended in these cases.
Do not try to administer antibiotics at home without a veterinarian’s prescription.
E. Coli
Escherichia coli, or commonly known as E. Coli, affects cats when their immune system is not able to function at optimal levels, this bacteria will attack the intestines, lab tests are needed to diagnose this infection. Some of the visible symptoms are:
- Discomfort when urinating
- Presence of blood discharge along with the urine
- Body temperatures higher than 102.5º F
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
Staphylococcus aureus
Also known as staph infection, this disease is related to cats with vulnerable immune systems because this bacteria is usually found dormant in cats. Immediately take your cat to the vet if your cat presents the following symptoms:
- Body temperatures higher than 102.5º F
- Skin redness
- Ear infection
- Nose infection
- Eye infection
- Excessive scratching
Allergic Reaction
Even though eggs are frequently found in cat’s food (dry or canned) this ingredient is listed as one of the most common allergens, long periods of feeding eggs to cats often leads to allergic reactions, please review the following symptoms are associated with it:
- Small skin patches without hair
- Extreme scratching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Ear infection
As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to take your cat to the veterinarian so he can diagnose if your cat is having an allergic reaction to eggs.
Egg Recipes For Your Cat
Egg and vegetable bowl
Ingredients:
- 1 small potato
- Half zucchini
- 1 egg
Directions:
Cut the potato and zucchini into small squares and boil them in hot water until they are tender, remove them from the hot water.
Cook the egg in the same water you just boiled your initial ingredients. Remove it once the yolk has hardened.
Add the potato, zucchini, and egg to a bowl and mash them together, add some of the cooking water to obtain a soft mixture.
Serve at room temperature.
Omelette
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of grated cheddar
- Chopped bacon
- 1 egg
- Catnip
- Dairy-free spread
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, add the cracked egg, dairy-free spread, and the cheese, then whisk the ingredients until you have a mixture.
In a frying pan, add a bit of dairy-free spread and once it melts, add the bacon. Let it cook for a couple of minutes and then add the egg mixture.
Flip the omelet once one side is fully cooked, when both sides are cooked, take the catnip and garnish. This recipe contains 2 servings.
Scrambled Eggs
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- A small piece of chopped bacon
Directions:
Mix the egg in a bowl and add the chopped bacon.
In a non-stick frying pan, add the beaten egg, cook using a spatula. Once the egg starts cooking, lower the heat and mix it in the pan to obtain a crumbly texture.
Once the egg is fully cooked, turn off the heat and let it cool before serving.
Tuna And Eggs
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 ounce of tinned tuna
Directions:
In a non-stick frying pan add the egg, scramble.
When the egg is halfway cooked, add the tuna.
Let it cool before serving.
Egg And Tuna Biscuits
Ingredients:
- 1 can of tuna, drained
- 1 egg
- Dried catnip
- Water
- Coconut flour
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F
In a food processor, add the tuna, egg, dried catnip, coconut flour, and a bit of water until you get a firm mixture.
Shape the mixture into biscuits shape, and place them on a baking cookie tray.
Bake until they turn brown color, they will be fully cooked in around 15 minutes.
Serve at room temperature.
You may store it in your fridge, consume it within 7 days.
Conclusions
As a cat parent sometimes you’ll feel the need of feeding some homemade dishes to your cat, now you can feel confident about feeding eggs to your cat, safe food handling principles are required to prevent unwanted illnesses and additionally, balance is key, your cat can certainly eat eggs but make sure you don’t exceed the recommended portions.
Remember to check with your vet beforehand to make sure your cat doesn’t have any particular needs that won’t allow you to feed them eggs.
More like this post:
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- Can Cats Eat Catnip? Is It Harmful For Your Cat?
- Can Cats Eat Tomatoes? Could Eating Tomatoes Harm Your Cat?
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
