In very small amounts once they are weaned and eating kitten food confidently. Offer a small piece of fully cooked egg rather than a spoonful sized for an adult cat, and watch how they get on before offering it again.

Can cats eat eggshell?

It is not something to offer deliberately. Ground eggshell is sometimes used as a calcium supplement in home-prepared diets under veterinary guidance, but a whole or broken shell is a choking and mouth-injury risk and adds nothing a complete cat food does not already provide.

How much egg can a cat have?

A small spoonful of cooked egg, once or twice a week, is plenty for most adult cats. There is no benefit to giving more than that, and a cat who eats a large amount of egg regularly is getting less of the balanced diet their normal food provides, on top of the extra calories adding up over a week.

Can cats eat egg yolk on its own?

Yes, fully cooked yolk is fine in a small amount, though it carries more fat than the white, so keep the portion modest. As with whole egg, cook it through and offer it plain, with nothing added.

Can cats eat eggs?

Yes, cats can eat egg, as long as it is fully cooked and given plain. A small amount of cooked egg is a good source of protein and most cats enjoy the taste, but raw egg carries a real salmonella risk and can interfere with a vitamin cats need, so it is worth cooking every time rather than treating it as an exception.

Why cooked egg is fine in small amounts

Egg is a genuinely good source of protein for a cat, which suits an obligate carnivore's diet better than most human foods do. Cooking it through removes the two real risks — bacteria that can make a cat unwell, and a protein in raw egg white that binds biotin and can affect a cat over time if raw egg becomes a habit rather than a rare treat.

A cat's complete food is already nutritionally balanced for them, so egg is an extra rather than something that needs to be added regularly. A small spoonful of scrambled or boiled egg now and then is enough to enjoy without unbalancing anything.

How to serve it safely

Scramble or boil the egg with nothing added — no butter, oil, salt, milk or seasoning, all of which are unnecessary for a cat and some of which are worth avoiding altogether. Let it cool before offering a small piece.

Cut or mash the egg into a size your cat can eat comfortably, and offer it plain rather than mixed into their usual food the first time, so you can see how they get on with it on its own.

When to hold off

Never offer raw egg, including licking a bowl or spoon used to whisk one. Raw egg carries a real risk of salmonella, and the raw white contains a protein that binds biotin, a vitamin cats need — an occasional lick is unlikely to cause obvious harm, but there is no reason to take the risk when cooking removes it entirely.

If your cat has a known food sensitivity, or is on a vet-prescribed diet for a health condition, ask your vet before adding egg or any other new food, since even a mild extra can matter more for a cat managing a specific condition than it would for a cat with no such history.

What to feed instead

A treat made specifically for cats is a more consistent option if you want to reward your cat regularly, without needing to cook something fresh each time or work out how much is a sensible portion on the fly.

If your cat enjoys the soft texture of egg, a wet food pouch or tray offers something similar day to day, formulated properly for a cat's diet rather than adapted from a human breakfast. Rotating between a couple of textures also keeps mealtimes interesting for a cat who tends to get bored of the same bowl.

Make treat time better

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats

A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.

From£8.99

Turkey Tail Mushroom & Probiotic Powder

A bacon-flavoured turkey tail mushroom and probiotic powder you sprinkle over food. Made to support immunity, energy and gut health, with scoop guidance for every weight from small to large pets.

£13.99

Fast UK delivery

Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats 500ml

A 100% natural daily supplement rich in omega 3, 6, and 9 from high-quality Scottish salmon — supports skin, coat, joints, and brain health.

£13.99

Browse all of Can cats eat… →

Common questions

Can kittens eat egg?: In very small amounts once they are weaned and eating kitten food confidently. Offer a small piece of fully cooked egg rather than a spoonful sized for an adult cat, and watch how they get on before offering it again.
Is raw egg bad for cats?: Yes, it is best avoided entirely. Raw egg carries a real risk of salmonella, and the raw white contains a protein that binds biotin, a vitamin cats need. Cooking the egg through removes both risks, so there is no good reason to feed it raw.
Can cats eat eggshell?: It is not something to offer deliberately. Ground eggshell is sometimes used as a calcium supplement in home-prepared diets under veterinary guidance, but a whole or broken shell is a choking and mouth-injury risk and adds nothing a complete cat food does not already provide.
How much egg can a cat have?: A small spoonful of cooked egg, once or twice a week, is plenty for most adult cats. There is no benefit to giving more than that, and a cat who eats a large amount of egg regularly is getting less of the balanced diet their normal food provides, on top of the extra calories adding up over a week.
Can cats eat egg yolk on its own?: Yes, fully cooked yolk is fine in a small amount, though it carries more fat than the white, so keep the portion modest. As with whole egg, cook it through and offer it plain, with nothing added.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.