While you’re enjoying your breakfast of scrambled eggs, has it ever crossed your mind if you could share a portion of your meal with your feline friend?
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Is it OK to give your cat eggs?
Cats can have eggs only if prepared well and served in moderation. Eggs have a lot of good protein that is important for cats. Scrambled eggs or boiled eggs without salt or other seasonings. Boiled or scrambled eggs should be served in moderation, since the egg whites contains a lot of fat.
Source of protein for cats
Cooked eggs are a dependable source of protein for pets, the amino acids and vitamins found in them help build lean muscle, repair tissue, and strengthen fur. They also contain vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium known for boosting immunity, strengthening bones, and improving coat quality. On top of that, eggs are also a great source of taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, therefore it is a requirement in their diets. It can only be found in animal-based proteins and it promotes proper digestion, muscle function, clear vision, and a healthy immune system.
If eggs are as good as it sounds, it makes you wonder why you can’t feed this to your cats on a daily basis? Although eggs are a good source of protein, minerals, and amino acids they’re not a meal replacement but more like a meal supplement.
Eggs as a treat
Eggs should only be given as a treat, and in small amounts. Egg whites contain a protein called avidin, which in excess disrupts biotin (vitamin H) functions. Biotin is responsible for your pet’s metabolism and cell growth among other things. Too much avidin could cause biotin deficiencies.
A cat that will live solely on a diet of eggs will develop dietary deficiencies and health problems. A good rule to follow in terms of serving eggs to your cat is that it doesn’t make up more than 3% of their diet.
There are tons of ways to prepare eggs, but only a handful of ways to prepare it for your cat. Here are two proven ways to prepare eggs that are safe for your feline friend.
How to make scrambled eggs for cat
Purely scramble the eggs with no salt, oil, butter, or other ingredients added. Place the egg in a heat resistant container and heat it up in the microwave or just scramble it on a non-stick ceramic cooking pan. Serve at room-temperature to your kitty twice a week at most.
How to make hard-boiled eggs for your cat
Half-fill a pot with water and heat it up to boiling temperature. Once you see the water boiling dip in the eggs and wait for it to cook for 8-9 minutes. Same as mentioned above, no other ingredients should be added to the water. After 8-9 minutes take out the eggs and cool them in a tray filled with water and ice. Portion the egg, it should not be more than 9% of your cat’s daily calorie intake. The amount of egg you give to your cat should be very small. Serve at room temperature, once a week at most. For unused eggs, store them in the refrigerator. Boiled eggs last up to a week in it.
Other human food you might consider if you’re out of cat food.
Video: Can CATS eat eggs? Can cats eat RAW eggs?
Questions about eggs and cats
Can kittens eat eggs?
Kittens can eat eggs, but it’s not the best food for them considering the number of calories they need to consume each day. Eggs contain a lot of calories and not as much nutrition for kittens. So it’s best for them to eat food meant for this stage of their life.
Although it can still be given to kittens as a treat, be mindful of the amount you give and how often you give it to them. It’s advised to give kittens only ½ teaspoon once a week.
Can cats eat raw eggs?
Although some owners swear by a raw diet, there are risks to feeding your cat anything uncooked. E. Coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter are types of bacteria found in raw eggs. They can infect your cat and spread to other people.
Although not common in cats, it can occur. It’s best to always cook the egg to eliminate any bacterial risks. The heat helps reduce the potency of the protein avidin found in egg whites. If the egg is served raw, it increases the chance of your pet having a vitamin b deficiency.
So the advice is to avoid raw eggs, so you won’t give your cat a salmonella infection.
Should I add more ingredients to my cat’s scrambled eggs?
It’s safer for your cat to consume cooked eggs as is. There are some foods like cheese, milk, onions and garlic that may cause your cat to vomit, have diarrhea or lose their appetite. If you are to feed your cats eggs, just keep it simple and plain.
Can cats eat scrambled eggs with cheese?
Just like scrambled egss without cheese you can serve your cat scrambled egss with cheese. Just be sure not to add salt to it, and don’t serve it too much, because it doesn’t really get less fat when you add cheese to the egg mix.
Can cats be allergic to eggs
In general, eggs are good for cats as long as they are not raw eggs. According to Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, it is common for cats to be allergic to eggs. The amount of cats having a food allergy is low though.
If your cat has an allergic reaction it might cause itchy skin or ears, maybe a skin infection or gastrointestinal issues.
Bottom line
Eggs are good for cats in small amounts. When preparing the eggs, refrain from adding any other ingredient not recommended for pet intake. Avoid serving the eggs raw to save yourself from possible bacteria contamination and your pet from vitamin deficiencies. Lastly, experiment. There might be a possibility your cat wouldn’t even eat the egg at all. They like to stick to their routine, they’re consistent and very specific with what food they choose to eat.
Now it’s not a question of “Can you give your cat scrambled eggs?” but rather would they even eat the eggs you have prepared?
