Can cats eat eggs?

Nutrition

The chicken egg is one of the foods most present in the diet of human beings, for the health benefits it offers and for its versatility in the kitchen that allows to elaborate an infinity of sweet and salty recipes. It is a very economical source of pure proteins, that does not present considerable levels of carbohydrates and sugars, being also an excellent ally of those who need or want to lose weight in a healthy way.

While science is tearing down many myths about eggs and demonstrating their benefits, there are still many tutors who wonder if cats can eat egg or if the consumption of this food is dangerous for feline health. Therefore, in, we tell you if the egg can be a beneficial food for cats, and we show you the precautions that we must have if we decide to incorporate this food into the diet of our kittens.

Nutritional composition of the chicken egg

Before explaining if cats can eat egg or not, it is important that you know the nutritional composition of this food, then, to understand its possible benefits for the nutrition of our kittens, as well as the precautions that we must take when introducing it into your diet . According to the database of the USDA (Department of Agriculture of the United States), 100 whole chicken egg grams, raw and fresh contain the following nutrients:

Energy: 143 kcal
Water: 76.15 g
Protein: 12.56 g
Total Fats: 9.51 g
Carbohydrates: 0.72 g
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 (thiamine): 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 seen in the previous nutritional composition, the egg consists of a very good source of lean and pure proteins, since it contains almost zero amounts of carbohydrates and total sugars, with a moderate amount of fats. Almost all the egg protein supply is in the egg white, while the lipid molecules are concentrated in the yolk. Precisely these two macronutrients should be the energetic pillars of the nutrition of our cats, taking into account that they are strictly carnivorous animals (and not omnivores like us).

In this regard, it is important to note that egg proteins are formed mostly by essential amino acids, that is to say, those amino acids that the cat does not synthesize naturally in its organism and needs to obtain from external sources through its feeding. Regarding the old bad reputation of eggs linked to excessive cholesterol intake, we must clarify that the Moderate consumption This food is safe for your cat and will not raise your 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 B complex. This means that, in addition to contributing to the formation and strengthening of the muscles and bones of our feline, the egg also helps them maintain a healthy immune system, which is essential to prevent all kinds of diseases.

In addition to offering all these benefits to the health of our cats, eggs are also inexpensive and easy to find foods.

Precautions when offering eggs to our cats

One of the greatest concerns of the tutors when it comes to incorporating the egg into the diet of their cats is if they should offer it raw or cooked. Although many experts and students of the BARF diet for cats highlight the benefits of providing raw foods to cats, thus preserving all their enzymes and nutritional properties, we must be very sure about the origin of the eggs that we acquired to incorporate them raw in the feeding our pussycat

Raw eggs may contain a bacterium very dangerous to the health of our cats, which is the salmonella. If we get eggs of organic origin, from birds with a controlled and also organic feed, we reduce considerably the risk that they are contaminated. However, even so we must wash the eggs very well with only running water before breaking the shell.

But attention! Single we must wash the eggs when using them, just before breaking them. As the egg shell is a porous surface, if we wash it with much anticipation and let it rest, we can favor the bacteria present in the eggshell to penetrate inside, thus contaminating the egg white and yolk.

Can cats eat cooked eggs?

If you can, in fact if we do not have a chance to get eggs from organic origin or we are not sure about the origin of the eggs that we acquire, it will be best to offer them cooked to our pigs. Cooking at high temperatures is able to eliminate much of the possible pathogens present in this food. In this way, you can guarantee that egg consumption is safe for your feline companion.

On the other hand, it is also important to highlight that raw eggs contain a protein called avidin. Although not a substance toxic to the cat, this protein acts as an antinutrient, preventing your body from properly absorbing biotin (also known as vitamin H).

Although to cause a deficiency of biotin in the cat’s organism it is necessary to consume high doses of raw egg (which is not recommended), we can simply cancel this unnecessary risk when cooking the eggs before incorporating them into the diet of our cats. The cooking denatures avidin, which inhibits its action as an antinutrient. That is, your cat can assimilate all the nutrients of the cooked egg with greater ease and safety.

Is there a safe dose that I must respect when I give my cat egg?

Moderate egg consumption can be very beneficial for our pigs, but we must respect a dose and a safe frequency so that this food is not harmful to your health. 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, combining it with other foods beneficial to the health of the cat. However, there is no single and predetermined dose for all cats, but the safe dose of egg should be adequate according to the size, weight, age and health status of each cat, also considering the purpose of the consumption of this food.

We must also highlight 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 must be their main food and source of proteins, fats, and other nutrients.

Therefore, it is essential that you consult a veterinarian to choose the most appropriate food according to the nutritional requirements of your kitten. The professional can guide you regarding the introduction of eggs and other foods in your cat’s diet, always advising you on the best form and the most appropriate doses of administration to obtain a positive impact on the health of your cat.

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