Can cats eat Raw eggs?
Caution. Raw eggs carry salmonella risk and raw egg whites contain a protein (avidin) that blocks biotin absorption. Cook eggs before feeding.
If your cat has eaten raw eggs
- No emergency for a single raw egg exposure.
- Monitor for vomiting or diarrhea; call your vet if these appear or persist.
What's the full picture?
Raw egg whites contain avidin, which binds biotin and prevents its absorption. Occasional raw egg exposure is unlikely to cause deficiency, but repeated feeding can cause skin and coat problems.
Raw eggs (especially commercial eggs not labelled for raw consumption) can also carry salmonella. Cooking eggs destroys both the avidin risk and the bacterial risk.
A small amount of plain scrambled or boiled egg (no salt, no oil) is a fine occasional treat.
If you feed a raw diet
Owners on a raw or "BARF" diet sometimes ask about raw eggs specifically because raw feeding is otherwise part of the plan. The biotin-binding effect of avidin is a real, cumulative risk with regular raw egg feeding — it's manageable if you're working with a vet or veterinary nutritionist who accounts for it in the overall diet, but casual, unsupervised regular raw egg feeding isn't the same as an occasional cooked egg treat.
The simplest fix
Cooking the egg — even lightly, scrambled dry with no oil or butter — eliminates both the avidin and salmonella concerns entirely, with no real nutritional downside for a treat-sized portion. There's no meaningful benefit to raw over cooked here that offsets the added risk, which is why cooked is the straightforward recommendation.
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Raw eggs carry salmonella risk and contain avidin (which destroys biotin). Cooked plain eggs in moderation are safe; if feeding raw, use commercial raw cat food.
Safer egg options for cats
Safer alternatives
- Plain scrambled or hard-boiled egg (no salt, no oil, no milk)
Concerned about other ingredients? 247ingredientscheck.com covers food additives and E-numbers, and 247caloriecheck.com has calorie and nutrition data for human foods.
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Questions owners ask
My cat licked raw egg — do I need to worry?
A lick is low risk. Monitor for GI upset but don't panic.
Portion control helps too — a slow-feeder bowl slows down greedy eaters and keeps shared-food expectations low.
Recommended for Cat Households
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About this guidance
Every entry on this site is compiled from published US veterinary toxicology sources — AAFP, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA APCC) references, AVMA-registered practice materials, and peer-reviewed feline medicine literature. Where the evidence is mixed, we err on the cautious side because cats are unusually sensitive to many common substances that are harmless to humans and even to dogs.
This is general information written for US cat owners. It is not personalised veterinary advice for your specific cat, their age, weight, medical history, or the exact exposure you're dealing with. If your cat has eaten something or is unwell, call your vet first. The ASPCA Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 is available 24/7 for a small fee and can tell you whether an emergency visit is needed.
Entries are reviewed and updated as new research emerges. Spotted an error? Let us know — corrections are investigated and applied within 24 hours. For more context on how we work, see about and our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed: · By the Cat Ate It editorial team