Are cats allowed to eat eggs?
Most cats are very choosy when it comes to their food. At the same time, some four-legged friends have quite specific preferences and enjoy foods like eggs, for example. But are cats even allowed to eat eggs, or could this food possibly harm them? The answer to this question is given below.
Cats and eggs: the most important facts at a glance
- Cats are allowed to eat small amounts of eggs, as long as they have been cooked through and are cooled and unseasoned.
- Cats should not be fed raw eggs because of various health risks.
- Some cats do not tolerate eggs and react to their consumption with allergic symptoms.
- Feeding should always consist mainly of high-quality cat food such as the products from I Love My Cat.
Eggs contain many nutrients
Eggs are known to be very rich in nutrients. They contain high-quality proteins, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and a number of important vitamins. Despite the bad reputation they have had for a long time, eggs are therefore a basically healthy food that, at least for us humans, can be included regularly in the menu without hesitation.
However, this does not necessarily mean that cats can also eat eggs. After all, the nutritional needs of carnivores are quite different from ours, and some foods that are harmless to humans are actually poisonous to cats.
Thankfully, this is not the case with eggs. Nevertheless, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want your cat to eat eggs.
Can cats eat boiled eggs?
In principle, there is nothing wrong with feeding your cat boiled eggs from time to time. However, you should not overdo it in terms of quantity. More than one egg per week is not recommended for cats, not least because of the high calorie content.
Cats should only eat unseasoned eggs, which should be fully cooked and cooled before eating, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Cats can be allergic to eggs
Food allergies are common in cats. These are usually triggered by animal proteins. In addition to commonly used meats, eggs also have an allergy potential that you should not underestimate.
It is therefore quite possible that their consumption triggers allergic reactions in cats. If this is the case with your four-legged friend, you must of course no longer let them eat eggs and instead restrict their feeding to more easily digestible foods.
Expert tip for allergic cats
Cats with food allergies need a special food that is free from potential allergens. For this purpose, we recommend you go for our hypoallergenic cat food with insects.
The insect protein, which comes from the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), is characterised by its high biological value and excellent digestibility.
Experience has shown that it is also well tolerated by cats with a very pronounced food allergy and is perfect for ensuring a long-term supply of nutrients in line with requirements.
Get to know hypoallergenic insect-based cat food
Can cats eat raw eggs?
While cooked eggs are usually unproblematic for cats in small quantities, it is better to avoid feeding raw eggs. This is because raw eggs are known to contain pathogens such as salmonella. Cats are considered to be quite insensitive to salmonella, and hens are vaccinated against salmonella in the UK. However, a salmonella infection is still sometimes possible and leads to diarrhoea, vomiting and fever in cats.
In addition, a certain ingredient in raw egg white can impair a cat’s digestion of protein. Also, the glycoprotein, avidin, contained in raw egg can also inhibit the absorption of biotin (vitamin B7) and thus lead to a biotin deficiency.
If, despite the risks involved, the cat is to be fed raw eggs, the eggs must always be fresh and separated so that the four-legged friend only receives the raw yolk.
Eggs for cats - our conclusion
As you can see, cats are allowed to eat cooked eggs, while it is better not to feed raw eggs and raw egg whites should never end up in the cat's food bowl.
If your cat likes it, there is nothing wrong with letting her eat some egg occasionally. However, eggs are not an important part of a balanced feline diet.
If you value quality and want to provide your cat with all the nutrients they need, I Love My Cat food is the right choice. The high-quality wet and dry food without cereals as well as the healthy cat snacks are likely to taste better to your cat than eggs, anyway!
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