The chicken egg is one of the most common foods in the human diet, due to the benefits it offers for he alth and its versatility in the kitchen that allows you to prepare an infinity of sweet recipes and s alty. It is a very cheap source of pure protein, which does not have considerable levels of carbohydrates and sugars, and is also an excellent ally for those who need or want to lose weight he althy way.
Although science is debunking many myths about eggs and proving their benefits, there are still many guardians who wonder if cats can eat eggsor if the consumption of this food is dangerous for feline he alth. For this reason, on our site, we tell you if the egg can be a beneficial food for cats, and we show you the precautions that we must take if we decide to incorporate this food in the diet of our kittens.
Nutritional composition of chicken eggs
Before explaining whether cats can eat eggs or not, it is important that you know the nutritional composition of this food so that you can understand its possible benefits for the nutrition of our kittens, as well as the precautions that we should take when introducing it into your diet. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) database, 100 grams of whole chicken eggs, raw and fresh contain the following nutrients:
- Energy: 143 kcal
- Water: 76.15 g
- Protein: 12.56 g
- Total Fat: 9.51 g
- Carbs: 0.72g
- Total sugars: 0.53 g
- Total fiber: 0.0 g
- Calcium: 56 mg
- Iron: 1.75 mg
- Magnesium: 12 mg
- Phosphorus: 198 mg
- Potassium: 138 mg
- Sodium: 142 mg
- Zinc: 1.29 mg
- Vitamin A: 140 μg
- Vitamin C: 0.0 mg
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin): 0.04 mg
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 0.45 mg
- Vitamin B3 (niacin or vitamin PP): 0.07 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.17 mg
- Vitamin B12: 0.89 µg
- Folate: 47 µg
- Vitamin D: 82 IU
- Vitamin E: 1.05 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.3 µg
Is it good to give eggs to cats?
As we have been able to observe in the previous nutritional composition, the egg consists of a very good source of lean and pure proteins, since contains almost zero amounts of carbohydrates and total sugars, with a moderate amount of fat. Almost all of the protein content of the egg is found in the white, while the lipid molecules are concentrated in the yolk. Precisely these two macronutrients should be the energy pillars of our felines' nutrition, bearing in mind that they are strictly carnivorous animals (and not omnivores like us).
In this sense, it is important to note that egg proteins are mostly made up of essential amino acids, that is, those amino acids that the cat does not synthesize naturally in its body and needs to obtain it from external sources through its diet. Regarding the old bad fame of eggs linked to the excessive contribution of cholesterol, we must clarify that the moderate consumption of this food is safe for your cat and will not raise its cholesterol levels or lead to weight gain.
In addition, we must highlight that the egg also shows interesting contributions of essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, iron and potassium, as well as vitamins A, D, E and the B complex. This means that, in addition to contributing to the formation and strengthening of our feline's muscles and bones, the egg also helps them to maintain a he althy immune system, which is essential to prevent all kinds of diseases.
In addition to offering all these he alth benefits to our felines, eggs are also inexpensive and easy to find.
Precautions when offering eggs to our cats
One of the biggest concerns of guardians when incorporating eggs into their cats' diet is whether they should offer them raw or cookedAlthough many experts and scholars of the BARF diet for cats highlight the benefits of providing raw food to felines, thus preserving all its enzymes and nutritional properties, we must be very sure about the origin of the eggs that we acquire to incorporate them raw in the feeding of our kittens.
Raw eggs can contain a bacteria that is very dangerous to the he alth of our cats, which is salmonella If we obtain eggs of organic origin, from birds with a controlled and also organic diet, we considerably reduce the risk of them being contaminated. However, we still have to wash the eggs very well just under running water before cracking the shell.
But attention! Only we should wash the eggs when using them, just before breaking them. As the eggshell is a porous surface, if we wash it well in advance and let it rest, we can encourage the bacteria present in the eggshell to penetrate inside, thus contaminating the white and the yolk.
Can cats eat boiled eggs?
Yes they can, in fact if we don't have a chance to get organic eggsor we are not sure about the origin of the eggs that we acquire, it is best to offer them cooked to our kittens. Cooking at high temperatures is capable of eliminating a large part of the possible pathogenic agents present in this food. This way, you can ensure that the consumption of the egg is safe for your feline companion.
On the other hand, it is also important to note that raw eggs contain a protein called avidin Although it is not a toxic substance for cats, this protein acts as an antinutrient, preventing your body from properly absorbing biotin (also known as vitamin H).
Although to cause a biotin deficiency in the cat's body it is necessary to consume high doses of raw eggs (which is not recommended), we can simply cancel this unnecessary risk by cooking the eggs before incorporating them in the diet of our cats. Cooking denatures avidin, thus inhibiting its action as an antinutrient. In other words, your cat will be able to assimilate all the nutrients of the boiled egg more easily and safely.
Is there a safe dose that I should respect when giving eggs to my cat?
The moderate consumption of eggs can be very beneficial for our cats, but we must respect a safe dose and frequency so that this food is not harmful to their he alth. As popular wisdom already affirms, everything in excess is bad…
In general, it is recommended to offer eggs to cats only once or twice a week, combined with other beneficial foods at the cat he alth. However, there is no single and predetermined dose for all cats, but the safe dose of egg must be appropriate according to the size, weight, age and he alth status of each cat, also considering the purpose of consuming this food.
We should also point out that the egg, even though it offers lean and beneficial proteins, should not replace meat in the diet of felines As we have mentioned, cats are strictly carnivorous animals, so meat should be their main food and source of protein, fat, and other nutrients.
For all these reasons, it is essential that you consult a veterinarian to choose the most appropriate diet according to your kitten's nutritional requirements. The professional will be able to guide you regarding the introduction of eggs and other foods in your cat's diet, always advising you on the best way and the most appropriate doses of administration to obtain a positive impact on the he alth of your cat.
