Can Cats Eat Eggs?

Terry Connor
9 min readAug 13, 2019

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Your pet cat is very delicate in both the outward look and anatomically. These pets some of the most adorable animals among humans around the world. It is this reason that we will always try to enhance happiness. Most people allow their cats to do almost anything they like, including jumping on the dining table during meals.

You will notice that the cat is interested in eating what you are eating whenever you allow her to join you on the table. As the owner of the cat, so you shall most likely hand over a piece of what you are having. You will not consider whether what you are having is suitable for the cat because you are simply indulging the pet in playful feeding games.

It is always important to ask yourself whether the human food you are giving the cat is good for the cat. You should consider that the human digestive system is very different when compared with the digestive system of the cat. The size of your body is also very different compared with that of a cat. This tells us that food which is good for you may sometimes be unhealthy for the cat.

How do cats eat eggs?

One of the foods which people are regularly tempted to share with their cats is eggs. It is very rare to go to a home which does not have either raw or cooked eggs at one point in the day. Most of us believe that breakfast is not a proper breakfast without eggs. This is why we find ourselves tempted to share our breakfast with the cats. Ask yourself the question of, ‘can cats eat eggs?’ before you can give eggs to your cat.

It is a known fact that cats can eat both raw and cooked eggs even though they like the cooked ones more. This is primarily attributed to the fact that cats are an obligate carnivore. They are meat-eating animals, but they can also eat plant-based foods to survive comfortably.

The plant-based foods have specific nutrients that are very helpful to the healthy survival of the cat. You can be sure that your cat shall be able to eat both raw and cooked eggs.

You should be able to know the benefits your cat will get from eating either raw or cooked eggs because you want your cat to be optimally healthy. To understand this, it is paramount to ask yourself, which nutrients are available in eggs.

Nutrients in eggs

Reliable science studies by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on cat nutrition tips have shown that eggs contain different kinds of nutrients. These nutrients are beneficial to both humans and animals. This is especially the yolk which has the following:

You cat requires most of these nutrients for different purposes. You shall have to ensure the cat gets the nutrients in the right manner. This is because like with any other substance, too much of anything is harmful.

Apart from the nutrients, we have listed above, eggs also have a lot of proteins. Your cat can benefit a lot from these proteins in ways such as:

  • Strengthening the cat’s fur
  • Repairing tissues
  • Building of muscles
  • Improving digestion
  • Enhancing eyesight

When the cat has a protein deficiency, it might start experiencing issues such as muscle loss and weight gain. Check whether the cat is eating enough quantities of proteins when its less playful

How should you feed eggs to your cat?

We have already established that eggs are helpful to your cat. Now let us now look at the best ways to give the eggs to your cat. Eggs can harm the cat when you do not follow the right formula. The cat will also not benefit in any way from the many nutrients. Let us start by considering whether you should cook the eggs or serve them raw.

Should you feed the cat with raw or cooked eggs

It is highly recommended that if you choose to feed your cat with eggs, you should ensure they are cooked. The primary reason behind this is that cooking any food kills bacteria that might have been in the food. You will have reduced chances of the cat contracting infections.

Feeding your cat with raw eggs is also discouraged because such eggs contain a protein known as avidin. This particular protein usually binds vitamin B7, which is one of the most for cats. Eating raw eggs shall reduce the quantities of this vitamin resulting in a deficiency. Avidin becomes inactive when the eggs are cooked, and therefore, your cat will not be at risk of having a vitamin B7 deficiency.

The right quantities of eggs to feed your cat

It is beneficial to make sure that you regulate the quantities of eggs your cat is eating. A cat eating one egg is equivalent to a human adult eating fifteen eggs. You can tell that this is a vast quantity which does not benefit the body, instead, it causes harm.

As the owner or caretaker of the cat, ensure that the cat only eats moderate amounts of the cooked eggs. It is better to rush and get the right cat food from your local store when you have nothing else in the house, instead of giving the cat large quantities of eggs.

You should also not be feeding your cat with eggs on a daily basis. Instead, give the cat a piece of a cooked egg about two or three times a week. This shall ensure that the cat benefits optimally from the nutrients without putting the cat at risk.

Are there drawbacks from feeding your cat with eggs?

Cholesterol concerns

There is a rumor that the cholesterol in eggs can result in different health issues in humans, including heart attack. This makes some people believe that theory tests true to cats. Studies done by experts from Feline Live in collaboration with other health experts on if cats can eat eggs have proven that eggs are not the leading cause of heart attacks. With this information, you should not worry that your cat will get sick from eating eggs provided you are feeding the cat in the right ways.

Allergy

Your cat might also be allergic to eggs. This is very rare with statistics showing that in almost two thousand cats, only will be allergic to eggs. It is advisable that if you check for rashes around the ears and face of your cat. Consult a vet immediately to be sure of what is causing the rashes. There are different things, which can cause such rashes, and as a result, it is always helpful to be sure.

Helpful ways of preventing your cat from eating eggs in excessive amounts

There are times when your cat may be able to eat excessive quantities of eggs without your knowledge. When you leave your cat at home, you do not know exactly what happens when you are away. Additionally, cats who enjoy strolling the outdoors may ravage the neighbor’s stock of eggs in the chicken house. There are measures you can put in place to make sure that the cat does not get access to eggs without your consent.

· Keeps the Eggs in A Safe Place

Most of us prefer to think that when we lock our doors, nothing shall go wrong because there will be no one else at home. We tend to leave things carelessly, including things such as eggs. You give the cat a chance to eat those eggs by leaving them in a place of easy reach.

Cats are creative, and your cat can come up with ways of crushing the eggs. To avoid this, just keep the eggs in a tightly closed container and within locked cabinets or fridges. Lock the fridge properly if there is no one at home since cats can open poorly closed refrigerators.

· Dispose of Left Overs Properly

We have already mentioned that eggs are some of the most eaten foods in most homes. Some mornings you may fail to get enough time to finish your breakfast. Leaving your leftovers in careless disposal gives the cat a chance to access them.

· Teach your cat to eat from the right places

You should have a designated place for your cat to eat. You can teach your cat that she can only eat from her bowl. Cats are curious and they will try to reach out for to food in different places. Proper training will significantly reduce the chances of cats eating foods that will only cause health complications.

What should you do when you notice that the cat has been eating eggs excessively?

You might notice that your cat always likes going to the places where you throw your trash. This is most likely because it is the same area where you throw away your leftovers. Alternatively, you may have been sharing your eggs with the cats without the proper understanding of the possible health risks. You children may be unaware of adapting the same habit.

Immediate medical attention

Take the cat to a qualified vet if you suspect it has been eating eggs without your knowledge. The cat shall be screened for any of the conditions that are linked to eating more eggs than recommended. The vet will advise you on what you should be feeding the cat to counter the excessive eggs’ nutrients. It is advisable to also change the place where you throw your trash, including leftovers so that the cat does not go back to her old habits.

Change of diet

You may lack time or resources to take the cat to the vet after noting she has been eating eggs secretly. Change the diet appropriately but remember that it is only a temporary solution. Find ways to get the cat medical help. In the meantime, reduce the foods that have more proteins and increase with the ones with more vitamins. The cat shall regain good old health with a consistently good diet.

Best ways to serve eggs to a cat

There are several creative ways to make your cat eat the right quantities of eggs conveniently.

Better preparation

The easiest way is to boil the egg and then cut it into small pieces. You should then put the pieces on the cat’s kibble to enrich their flavor. This will also ensure that the meal has optimum nutritional value.

As a snack

You can also administer the eggs as snacks. Cut it into bite-size pieces after it has been properly cooked and put the pieces into the cat’s bowl. The cat will nibble on the pieces comfortably.

Select the parts

The eggshell from the already boiled egg can also be very helpful to your cat, as explained by the National Animal Supplement Council on the topic of Eggs and Cats. You should not throw the eggshells away since you can grid them and make them into a fine powder through gridding them. This powder has high quantities of calcium, which is very helpful for the bones and teeth of your cat. The only thing you need is to make sure that you grid the shells properly so that there are no big pieces which can choke the cat. Sprinkle this powder on your cat’s meals.

Conclusion

Your worries on whether you should feed your cat with eggs are non-existent when you have the right arsenal of information. Now you understand that you can feed your cat with eggs provided you do it the right way. You shall have helped your cat significantly by ensuring it eats the eggs with verified eating formulas that observe recommended quantities and frequency.

As the owner, you will benefit because there will be no need to keep going to the vet due to regular diet-related alarms. There will be a better relationship between you and your cat when the cat is healthy.

Originally published at https://purrpetrators.com on August 13, 2019.

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Terry Connor
Terry Connor

Written by Terry Connor

I'm someone who is always looking to improve my life and others. Looking to be a better person spiritually and financially. Plus I love pottery and Cats.

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