Why
Raw eggs can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, and the ASPCA notes that an enzyme in raw egg can interfere with vitamin absorption. PetMD advises checking with your vet before adding eggs.
How to serve eggs
- If your vet agrees, scramble or hard-boil with no butter, oil or salt.
- Offer a small piece, not a whole egg.
Watch out for
- Never feed raw egg.
- Count the calories against your cat's daily treat allowance.
How much eggs can a cat eat?
Treats of every kind should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. Here is that daily treat budget by size, and how much eggs it buys if eggs is the only treat that day. Eggs has about 155 kcal per 100 g; 1 large (50 g) is about 78 kcal.
| Cat size | Daily treat budget | Max eggs a day |
|---|---|---|
| Small cat (6 lb) | 18 kcal | 11 g (a quarter of large) |
| Average cat (10 lb) | 26 kcal | 17 g (a third of large) |
| Large cat (14 lb) | 34 kcal | 22 g (half of large) |
Less is better for overweight or diabetic cats. Work out your own cat's numbers with the cat food calculator. Calories: USDA FoodData Central, Egg, whole, cooked, hard-boiled.
Other meat, fish and eggs: quick answers
| Food | Verdict | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Bones | Avoid | No. Bones can injure or block a cat's gut, which may need surgery. |
| Fat trimmings and skin | Avoid | Best avoided. Fatty scraps can cause stomach upset and pancreatitis. |
| Meat baby food | Avoid | Best avoided. Meat baby food is often seasoned with onion or garlic. |
| Raw meat | Avoid | Best avoided. Raw meat can carry Salmonella and E. coli. |
| Tuna | Small amounts | Only a little, once in a while. Tuna made for people should not be a regular part of a cat's diet. |
| Chicken | Safe | Yes. Plain, thoroughly cooked chicken with no bones, skin or seasoning is a safe treat. |
| Fish | Safe | Yes, if it is cooked, plain and boneless. Raw fish is best avoided. |
| Salmon | Safe | Yes, cooked and plain. Raw fish is not a good idea for cats. |
Rules for any new food
- Plain is the rule: no salt, butter, oil, onion, garlic, sugar or sweeteners. Most of the danger in human food comes from what is added to it.
- Keep all treats under 10% of your cat's daily calories . The rest should come from a complete cat food.
- Check labels for onion and garlic powder, which turn up in stock, gravy, baby food and seasoned meat.
- If your cat has a health condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease or a sensitive stomach, ask your vet before adding any new food.
Frequently asked questions
Are eggs safe for cats?
Cooked egg is the only option to consider; raw eggs are a no.
How much eggs can a cat have?
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of a cat's daily calories. For an average 10 lb neutered cat that is about 26 kcal a day, or roughly 17 g of eggs if it is the only treat that day.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets"
- PetMD, "Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Cats" (reviewed by Nicole Silva, DVM)
- Pet Nutrition Alliance, "Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs"
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018 release)
Checked October 17, 2026. We are a reference, not a vet: if in doubt, call yours. How we check.