No one can doubt the nutritions that comes with an egg. It is filled with all kinds of minerals, vitamins, and proteins that are not only beneficial for humans but can provide efficient advantages to cats as well. If you do research or ask an expert, you will get to know that lots of eggs, protein, and nutrition are present in the yellow center, yolk.
Even if people know that egg yolk is filled with nutrition, they still want to confirm, can cats eat the yolk? Is yolk good for cats to eat? Are there any benefits of feeding yolk to cats? You should move on to feeding yolk to your cats once you have answers to all these questions. It is essential so that you don’t end up putting your cat’s health at risk just while trying new snacks for cats. Continue reading this article so that you can become a pro on the topic; can cats eat yolk?
Table of Contents
Can cats have yolk?
Cats can eat the yolk and many experts recommend it as it brings a great amount of protein and nutrients. Make sure you don’t overfeed yolk as it is a thing that is less beneficial and riskier for a cat’s health.
If given in moderation, egg yolk can fulfill a big portion of cats’ nutritional needs but if overfed, it can immediately cause health issues mainly pancreatitis and obesity issues.
Can cats eat raw yolk?
No, cats should never eat raw yolk as it is not beneficial and can bring a lot of risks as well. You can only feed egg yolk to your cats if it is cooked properly.
Is egg yolk good for cats to eat?
As cats are carnivores they will love to get a lot of protein from egg yolk. Egg yolk is filled with amino acids and vitamins that can contribute to the better growth and development of cats.
Experts claim that if you feed egg yolk in moderation or in very small quantities, it will bring positives but if you start feeding too much, the cats will get sick or may face some long-term health issues.
The reason is that cats require protein and calories but cannot survive efficiently if given in high quantities.
How many egg yolks can cats eat?
We don’t measure the volume of egg yolk to be given to cats in terms of grams or something. Experts claim that eggs should only fulfill 10% of cats’ daily routine calorie needs.
A 10-pound cat usually requires 150 to 200 calories a day, give or take. Single egg yolk has about 50-60 calories which means that cats can only eat just a small part of the yolk if they want to gain benefits without facing any risks or issues.
What happens if cats eat egg yolk?
Egg yolk is loaded with protein, fat, and cholesterol. If such things are given to cats in huge quantities, they can cause various health issues or symptoms of illness mainly including
- Pancreatitis
- Obesity issues
- Kidney problems
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Gastrointestinal upset
Health benefits of feeding yolk to cats:
Before we talk about other benefits, here is a fact that cats require 11 amino acids to live, and surprisingly 10 of those amino acids can be found in egg yolk.
- Animal protein helps in cats’ growth and development.
- Vitamin A protects skin and coat while helping the nervous system to function properly.
- Taurine ensures the better health of a cat’s heart.
- Taurine improves or animates eyesight.
- Vitamin D gives strength to bones and muscles.
- Cats don’t require carbohydrates and egg yolk has minimum to no carbs.
- Vitamin E reduces the chances of cell damage.
- Vitamin B12 helps in keeping the immune and digestive systems strong and healthy.
- Biotin supports the thyroid and adrenal glands.
- Zinc keeps the reproductive system and of cats healthy.
How to serve egg yolk to cats?
- Get rid of the outer shells thoroughly.
- Cook thoroughly until there is no raw material remaining.
- If boiled, even the thin transparent layer should be removed before feeding.
- Separate white and yolk and feed the appropriate amount accordingly.
Do cats need to eat egg yolk?
The only thing that is essentially needed by cats is meat or meat-based foods as this can satisfy all their nutritional needs. Every other food can only be given as a treat or supplement. Cats do not need egg yolk but there is no harm if you feed them occasionally in moderation.
When cats should not eat egg yolk?
As egg yolk includes protein and a lot of fat, the below-mentioned categories of cats should avoid eating egg yolk in all cases.
- Cats with obesity problems
- Overweight cats
- Cats having kidney issues
Nutrition Facts of Egg Yolk:
No one can deny the fact that an egg is filled with protein and nutrients or maybe saying in this way would be right that an egg is nothing but a bag of nutrients.
Talking about nutrition, the biggest percentage of protein, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids are found in egg yolk.
Below is the detailed list of all the nutrients that come in a single large egg yolk.
| 1 Large Egg Yolk (17 grams) | Nutrition Facts |
| Calories | 54.7 |
| Saturated fat | 1.6g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 2g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.7g |
| Cholesterol | 184.5mg |
| Sodium | 8.2mg |
| Potassium | 18.5mg |
| Carbohydrates | 0.6g |
| Net carbs | 0.6g |
| Sugar | 0.1g |
| Protein | 2.7g |
| Vitamin A | 64.8μg |
| Vitamin A IU | 245.1IU |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.3μg |
| Vitamin D | 0.9μg |
| Vitamin D IU | 37.1IU |
| Vitamin D3 | 0.9μg |
| Vitamin E | 0.4mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.1μg |
| Calcium | 21.9mg |
| Iron | 0.5mg |
| Magnesium | 0.9mg |
| Phosphorus | 66.3 mg |
| Selenium | 9.5μg |
| Retinol | 63.1μg |
| Riboflavin | 0.1mg |
| Folate | 24.8μg |
| Choline | 139.4mg |
| Betaine | 0.2mg |
| Water | 8.9g |
| Threonine | 0.1g |
| Isoleucine | 0.1g |
| Leucine | 0.2g |
| Lysine | 0.2g |
| Methionine | 0.1g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.1g |
| Tyrosine | 0.1g |
| Valine | 0.2g |
| Arginine | 0.2g |
| Histidine | 0.1g |
| Alanine | 0.1g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.3g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.3g |
| Glycine | 0.1g |
| Proline | 0.1g |
| Serine | 0.2g |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats eat cooked egg yolk?
Cats cannot only eat cooked egg yolk but it is the only way to feed your cats. Your cat will not face any health issues even if you give thoroughly cooked egg yolk but if you feed them raw yolk, you may end up having symptoms of mild illness or sometimes severe health issues.
Is egg white good for cats to eat?
Cats can eat egg white and it is very beneficial as it includes protein without fat. Make sure that you only feed egg white once in a while and as far as quantity is concerned, PetMD recommends feeding one teaspoon to a tablespoon is probably the best suitable amount for cats of any age.
Can kittens eat cooked egg yolk?
Yes, cats can eat cooked egg yolk but their requirement of calories is far less than an adult cat. This means that as an adult cat of 10 pounds needs 150 to 200 calories a day and is permitted to eat only 10% of that cavalier’s egg, it means that kittens can be given a very tiny part of the egg yolk. This is the reason that experts recommend avoiding yolk when your felines are kittens and feeding them foods that can actually help them grow in a better way.
Can cats eat eggshells?
Yes, cats do eat eggshells as they provide a good amount of protein as claimed by PetMD. However, it is also recommended to boil eggshells and then grind the probably most preferably using a coffee grinder. Then add those ground particles to cats or any other meal.
The unique literary talents of Dr. A. Barton are well known throughout the veterinary profession. He is a regular contributor to the New York City Veterinarian and his professional articles have also appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Veterinarian and Philadelphia Medicine. He is the only veterinarian ever to have had an article published in the human medical publication, What’s New.
