Food safety · 2 min read

Can cats eat Raw eggs?

Caution

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

  1. No emergency for a single raw egg exposure.
  2. Monitor for vomiting or diarrhoea; 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.

Safer alternatives

  • Plain scrambled or hard-boiled egg (no salt, no oil, no milk)

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.

If you're worried right now

Call your vet or out-of-hours emergency vet first. For poison advice, the Animal PoisonLine (UK) is on 01202 509000 — 24/7, charges apply. Your vet can also call the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) directly.

Cooked eggs yes Raw bread dough no Raw fish caution

About this guidance

Every entry on this site is compiled from published UK veterinary toxicology sources — International Cat Care, Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) references, RCVS-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 UK 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 Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 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 What Can My Cat Eat? editorial team

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